Exhibition Moutier-Grandval Bible on display in Delsberg
The Moutier-Grandval Bible will be on display at the Musée jurassien d'art et d'histoire (MJAH) in Delsberg from Saturday. The manuscript is around 1200 years old.
06.03.2025, 14:46
SDA
The rare manuscript was created around the year 830 in the Abbey of Saint-Martin de Tours in France, before being donated to the Abbey of Moutier-Grandval. Around twenty monks were involved in the creation of this richly decorated and illustrated work.
In addition to the numerous miniatures, a special feature is the Carolingian minuscule script. This script was created under Emperor Charlemagne and was spread throughout the empire at his request.
The Bible is not only a great work in terms of its significance, but also in terms of its size. It contains almost 450 leaves, each measuring over 50 by 37 centimetres.
Today, the Bible is kept in the renowned British Library in London. It is one of the oldest completely preserved illustrated Bibles in the world. It was exhibited in Delsberg for a few months back in 1981.
It is presented in a special room at the MJAH. Due to the high conservation requirements, the museum limits the number of visitors. There is also a special exhibition that tells the story of the Bible's adventurous journey. Other historical manuscripts are also on display.
Bible will return to the British Library
The medieval masterpiece is "one of the British Library's most important works", Claire Breay, who is responsible for ancient, medieval and early modern manuscripts at the British Library, told the media on Thursday.
Nathalie Fleury, director of the MJAH, pointed out that the Bible could not remain in the Jura after the end of the exhibition: "It was not acquired unlawfully," she said.
The exhibition will run until June 8. Reservations are compulsory to view the Bible.
https://mjah.ch/d/accueil
