Musee Du Cloitre Travel Guide

The Musée du Cloître, situated in the historic heart of Tulle, occupies a portion of the ancient Saint-Martin Abbey, a site classified as a historical monument. The Gothic cloister itself, dating back to the 13th century, is a remarkable architectural feature, known for its pure arcades and the chapter house adorned with 14th-century murals.For many years, the Musée du Cloître housed varied collections reflecting the life, discoveries, and history of Tulle and the surrounding Bas-Limousin region. These collections encompassed local archeology, religious art, ethnohistory, and traditional techniques. Highlights included religious art related to Tulle's history as an abbey and episcopal city, exquisite needlepoint lace known as 'poinct de Tulle,' and collections of paintings, drawings, and watercolors depicting local life and customs.However, the Musée du Cloître closed its doors on January 3, 2022, to prepare for the opening of a new museum facility, the Cité de l'accordéon et des patrimoines de Tulle, which opened in April 2024. While the cloister remains accessible to visitors, it no longer displays collections. The Cité de l'accordéon et des patrimoines now houses three permanent exhibition trails dedicated to the accordion, Tulle needlepoint lace, and the Manufacture d'armes de Tulle.