Yesterday, 11:42 AM
A Virtual Reconstruction of the Abbey of Cluny
NLM | October 1, 2025
Here’s another big win for the YouTube suggestion algorithm, a new documentary about the building of the third church of the abbey of Cluny, which for over 500 years was the longest church in the world, until it was replaced by the new St Peter’s basilica. Very little of the building remains today, but this documentary gives a very nice virtual reconstruction of it, with a lot of historical details about how it was built, and information which modern archeological research has uncovered about the building the process.
There are two errors that I (and others, in the YouTube comments) have spotted. One is a just slip of the tongue - the abbey was founded in 910, not 1910. The other (41:50) is that the Pope who consecrated the church in 1095 was Bl. Urban II, not Innocent II, whose reign began 35 years later. It has to be said that a lot of the music is too dramatic, and, as has become a general problem with documentaries, some things are said at greater length than is really necessary, but on the whole, I think you will find it well worth your time.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre