The Cloisters presents medieval European art and architecture in a museum designed around incorporated architectural elements from historic sites. Its gardens and Hudson-facing setting create a contemplative setting, while the building’s layered origins reward close attention.
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The quiet courtyard feels medieval, but the building is a twentieth-century composition. The Met Cloisters opened in 1938 as the Metropolitan Museum’s branch for medieval European art and architecture. Its design brings together architectural elements from several European sites, including cloisters from southern France, arranged into a new museum rather than copied from one original building.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The Cloisters opened to the public in 1938.
- It is the Met’s branch devoted to medieval European art and architecture.
- Its building incorporates elements from multiple medieval European sites.
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