Blog | HPRG The Sword. Uses, Myths and Symbols, an exhibition at the Musée de Cluny from 28th April – 26th September 2011 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

The Sword. Uses, Myths and Symbols,
an exhibition at the Musée de Cluny
from 28th April – 26th September 2011

You’ll learn everything about swords from 5th – 15th century! You’ll be able to see Joan of Arc’s sword! You’ll be able to fight with some knights! (one of these sentences isn’t true, but which one?).

photo by Andy Coanused used under cc licence

If you fancy yourself as one of the Lords of the Rings, here an exhibition tailor-made for you! It’s divided into four parts:

Technical aspects

Forging and forges, chosen forms and the wide variety of possible designs…

Real uses

How to smite your enemy, how to wield your arm, swords and fencing, and (?) how women used swords…

Symbolic uses

A noble symbol linked with kings, sign of independance. The pope of the Middle Ages get a sword each year to a person that he wanted to reward…

The myth

Excalibur, magic… how literature and movies have featured swords…

photo by Toni Kaarttinen used under cc licence

And if after all that you still want to learn more, hop in the car (or try a train + bus) for an exhibition called The Sword and the Renaissance at the National Renaissance Museum at the Château d’Ecouen (here, 20 km from Paris – www.musee-renaissance.fr). A catalogue of the exhibition is also being published (128 pages, 28 €).

And no, the exhibition doe snot allow you to fight knights. Shame!

L’exposition The Sword. Uses, Myths and Symbols is at the Musée de Cluny (here) from 28th April – 26th September 2011.

Open every day except Tuesdays from 9.15am – 5.45pm (last ticket at 5pm).

Admission: 8.50 €/ 6.50€. Free for under-26s and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.

More information: www.musee-moyenage.fr

Museum Twitter feed (in French): www.twitter.com/museecluny