Looking for a European getaway for the price of a Metrocard? There are five Medieval French Cloisters connected by galleries full of period art sitting on four acres of land that overlook the Hudson River in Fort Tyron Park. This extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, know as the Cloisters, has been called “the crowning achievement of American museology” by the former director of the Louvre in Paris – and he would know. Here atop grassy peaks at the top of Manhattan are all forms of European Medieval art, from paintings to tapestries to sculptures and stained glass and even parts of the structure itself. The indoors spaces flow seamlessly into the outdoor cloisters and gardens and the breathtaking views of the Hudson River valley are always there peaking out between the columns and archways. The Cloisters is a beautiful and enchanting glimpse into history and well worth the trek uptown.

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