Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. William I "the Pious," Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne, founded the Benedictine abbey of Cluny in 910 on a modest scale, to serve as the motherhouse of the Congregation of Cluny.
It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries. Romanesque Architecture: In keeping with the Romanesque style, Cluny was characterized by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading.