Have you ever dreamed of stepping into the Middle Ages—wandering through vast castles and gardens, taking in untouched natural landscapes, examining unicorn tapestries up close, or squinting at the colorful glow of stained glass windows? At The Met Cloisters in New York City, you can bring those fantasies to life.
The Met Cloisters is a branch of the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its collection showcases artifacts of medieval Western European art brought over from Europe, including architecture, paintings, sculpture, tapestries, stained glass, ivory carvings, and more.
A Brief History
The museum and the surrounding park, designed in the style of a medieval castle, were funded by perhaps the most altruistic of the five wealthy Rockefeller brothers—John D. Rockefeller Jr. He donated much of his personal collection of medieval art to the museum. To preserve the untouched view of the Hudson River from the museum’s windows, he also purchased a vast tract of land (about 65 acres) directly across from it.
The Collection
The Cloisters is one of those rare places where the museum building itself is a cultural, historical, and architectural artifact. Its name comes from its signature feature: cloisters—covered walkways modeled after those in French monasteries of the 12th to 15th centuries. These cloisters are not replicas; they include original medieval stonework and furnishings.
A striking 12th-century open-air gallery with pink marble elements forms a centerpiece of the space. The museum also contains nine exhibition rooms that present objects in chronological order.
The collection includes over 5,000 pieces of Romanesque and Gothic art: paintings, sculptures, tapestries, stained glass, and ivory carvings. Two of its most famous works are “The Merode Altarpiece” and the celebrated tapestry series “The Hunt of the Unicorn.”
Fun Facts
- Interestingly, The Cloisters doesn’t replicate a single medieval site. Instead, it’s a composite structure, incorporating architectural elements and stones from various European monasteries to create an idealized version of the medieval world. This makes it a one-of-a-kind architectural monument. You can spend hours exploring its tranquil courtyards and gardens, which were planted based on historical botanical texts to stay true to medieval horticultural practices.
- Trie Café at The Met Cloisters offers light refreshments in a charming outdoor setting and operates from April through October.
- The museum also appears in popular culture. It’s mentioned in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code as a site shrouded in mystery and intrigue. It also features in the 2000 film The Devil’s Own, where its architecture and ambiance serve as a dramatic backdrop.
Visitor’s Information
Official website: The Met Cloisters
Hours: Thursday to Tuesday, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Address: 99 Margaret Corbin Drive (accessible via bus from the Metropolitan Museum)
Admission:
- Adults: $30
- Seniors: $22
- Students: $17
- Children under 12: Free
