Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris): detailed information about Notre Dame Cathedral, architecture and history of Notre Dame de Paris, location on the map.
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral or Notre Dame is the oldest and most famous cathedral of Paris, located in its oldest part - the Ile de la Cité. This is a magnificent Gothic masterpiece, immortalized by the genius Victor Hugo and turned into an iconic place in the French capital along with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
In addition to the magnificent cathedral building and its interior, you can appreciate the beauty of Paris from the heights of the towers. To climb them you need to overcome more than 350 steps. You can also see the archaeological crypt, which will “tell” the history of the city from Gallo-Roman times to the 19th century.
History of Notre-Dame de Paris
Already in the 3rd century, the first Christians appeared in ancient Paris. St. was sent here. Dionysius, executed on the Montmartre hill, and later became the patron saint of the city (the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis is also named after him). After Constantine approved Christianity as the official religion in the Roman Empire, in the 4th century, on the site of a pagan temple, the first Christian cathedral was built on the Isle of Cité - the Cathedral of St. Stefan. It is not known exactly what it looked like or its exact dimensions, but it is believed that it was a large five-nave basilica, rebuilt in the 6th-7th century.
Stone Cathedral of St. Stephen's was able to stand the test of time, but in the 12th century, Louis VII and Bishop de Sully decided to build a new, more magnificent cathedral. In 1163, the first stone of the future Notre Dame was laid. Construction continued until 1250.
Throughout its history, before the French Revolution, Notre Dame Cathedral was rebuilt and renovated several times. The revolution caused terrible damage to the cathedral - the statues of kings on the facade were destroyed, all the large sculptures were destroyed, stained glass windows and portals were damaged. Notre Dame fell into such a deplorable state that the possibility of its demolition was seriously discussed. Fortunately, thanks largely to Victor Hugo and his legendary novel Notre Dame de Paris, it was decided to restore the cathedral. In the mid-19th century, Notre Dame was reopened.
Architecture
The architectural style of the cathedral is Gothic. The western facade is divided into three parts vertically and horizontally.
The lower tier has three portals (entrances): the portal of St. Anna, the portal of the Virgin Mary, the portal of the Last Judgment. Each portal is decorated with bas-reliefs. Above the portals is the Arcade of Kings - 28 sculptures of Jewish kings damaged during the Revolution.
Above is the western rose - a figure of infinity and infinity, enclosed in a square. Built in the early 13th century, it is one of the three roses of the cathedral and the oldest of them.
The architecture of the cathedral features two bell towers - North and South. At the same time, the South Tower (closest to the river) looks less massive.
On the south side, the façade of the cathedral is also decorated with a rose and a spire, around which there are 12 figures of the apostles.
The roof of the cathedral is lead. Made of thin lead plates overlapped. The roof weight is about 210 tons. Also in the upper part, the facade of Notre Dame Cathedral is decorated with figurines of gargoyles and chimeras. Interestingly, there were no chimeras in the Middle Ages. They were installed in the 19th century during the restoration, as was the new lead roof.
Interior
The interior of Notre Dame does not boast fancy wall paintings. But this is the specificity of severe Gothic. The only source of light and color are the most beautiful stained glass windows. The original stained glass windows from the 13th century survive only on the cathedral roses. The remaining 110 stained glass windows were restored.
In the center of the nave there are sculptural compositions from the Gospel. In the right chapel of the cathedral there are paintings and sculptures donated. The cathedral chandelier is made of silver-plated bronze.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris houses one of the greatest Christian relics - the Crown of Thorns.
Operating mode and input
Notre Dame Cathedral is open daily from 8.00 to 18.45. On weekends until 19.45. Admission is free and free.
To climb the towers and admire the panorama of Paris from the height of the gargoyles you need to pay 10 euros. There is also a paid entrance to the crypt.
Behavior rules
- Notre Dame Cathedral is a working cathedral, so you need to be calm, quiet and respectful.
- Luggage is prohibited.
- Flash photography is prohibited.
- They may not allow you to wear short skirts or shorts.
How to get there?
–Line 4, Cite ou Saint-Michel
–Line 1, 11, Hotel de Ville
–Line 10, Maubert-Mutualité ou Cluny – La Sorbonne
–Line 7, 11 , 14 Châtelet
–Line B, Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
–Line, C, Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame
–Routes 21, 38, 47, 85, 96, Arrêt Cité – Palais de Justice
–Route 47, Balabus Arrêt Cité – Parvis de Notre-Dame
–Routes 24, 47 Arrêt Notre-Dame – Quai de Montebello
–Routes 24, 47 Arrêt Petit Pont
–Routes 24, 27, Balabus Arrêt Pont Saint-Michel – Quai des Orfèvres
–Routes 24, 27, 96, Balabus Arrêt Saint-Michel
–Routes 21, 27, 38, 85, 96 Arrêt Saint-michel – Saint-Germain
Notre-Dame de Paris (France) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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Notre Dame de Paris or Notre Dame Cathedral is known primarily thanks to the novel by Victor Hugo, who set out to rekindle the love for the cathedral in the French (and, by the way, quite successfully achieved it). There is no doubt about the existence of this love - during the Great French Revolution, Parisians were ready to pay bribes “for the needs of all revolutions that will occur in other countries” to Robespierre, who otherwise threatened to demolish the cathedral.
It is probably Hugo who should be thanked for the opportunity to admire the cathedral to this day. During the reign of Louis XIV, one and a half hundred years before the writing of the novel, Notre Dame was seriously damaged and lost all its stained glass windows. And the revolution did not pass without a trace for him - although Robespierre did not demolish it, he ordered the beheading of the statues decorating the cathedral. And just ten years after the publication of the novel, reconstruction began, which, in addition to returning its original appearance, gave Notre Dame the famous gallery of chimeras.
The construction of the cathedral lasted almost two centuries, which, however, only benefited it. At the time of laying the first stone, the Romanesque style dominated in French architecture, which was replaced by the Gothic style during the construction process. Thanks to this, Notre Dame absorbed the best of both, resulting in its own unique appearance.
It was assumed that the cathedral would be so large that it could accommodate all the inhabitants of Paris, of whom there were about ten thousand at that time. The cathedral is so huge that the middle nave could accommodate a twelve-story building.
Notre Dame de Paris
Another feature of the cathedral's design is that it does not have a single internal wall. They are replaced by columns connected by arches, and the rooms are separated from each other by stained glass windows.
It is believed that one of the nails with the help of which the cross for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was hammered together is kept in the cathedral. On the other hand, the same thing is said about about thirty more nails located in different countries.
Practical information
Address: Rue du cloître Notre-Dame, Paris 4e.
Opening hours: from October 1 to March 31 - from 10:00 to 17:30, from April 1 to September 30 - from 10:00 to 18:30, from July 1 to August 31 - on Fridays and Saturdays until 23:00 .
Free admission; ticket for an excursion to the observation deck of the south tower - 8.5 EUR for adults, for young people from 18 to 25 years old - 5 EUR, for children under 18 years old - free.
Among their most cherished desires, many earthlings name a trip to Paris - one of the most romantic cities on the planet. When planning a route around the legendary French capital and its environs, foreign tourists plan to visit at least a dozen “must-see” attractions. Among them are the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the Champs Elysees, Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Bastille, Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge cabaret. But the most visited site in Paris for centuries has been Notre Dame Cathedral, also known as Notre Dame. More than 13 million tourists come to see it every year.
The majestic French Catholic church, where pompous prayer services, imperial coronations, royal weddings and spectacular funeral services for deceased crowned persons were held, has a rich history and a complex fate.
The structure was repeatedly subjected to destruction and reconstruction, and more than once there was a real threat of its complete destruction and oblivion. The fact that this magnificent cathedral still exists and functions is a great credit to Victor Hugo. The famous French writer and playwright, in love with his homeland, described the colorful temple in his novel of the same name, “Notre Dame Cathedral,” in 1831.
This romantic work with a tragic ending has become incredibly popular. The book was translated into dozens of languages, and theatrical productions, film adaptations and spectacular musicals were later created on its basis. Thousands of tourists, inspired by the poetic description of Paris and deeply touched by the sad fate of the beautiful Esmeralda, flocked to the French capital to see with their own eyes the cathedral, where the dramatic events created by Hugo’s rich imagination took place.
These days, the French musical “Notre Dame de Paris” has gained extraordinary popularity, which debuted in 1998 and was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful musical performance. Over the next 12 years, 10 foreign productions of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris were created, including in Europe, the USA, Russia and Korea. To appreciate this amazing piece of music, listen to one of the most famous singles in the entire history of France - the song “Belle”, dedicated to the main characters of the novel.
NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS: CONSTRUCTION OVER 2 CENTURIES
The official date for the start of construction of the legendary temple is 1163. It was then that the first stone was laid in the foundation of the future majestic structure.
Construction work lasted more than 180 years - the huge cathedral acquired its final appearance only in 1345. During construction, the interior spaces were actively used as they were ready. At the main altar, consecrated back in 1182, prayer services, coronations, weddings and funerals were held, and in one of the luxurious halls a meeting of the first parliament of France was held in 1302.
Several architects worked on the temple project over two centuries, which explains its rich and varied architecture and decoration. Money for construction was collected “by the whole world”; every Parisian wanted to have a hand in the construction of God’s temple. Those who contributed large sums could expect to be buried inside the chapels, as well as have their statue displayed in the cathedral.
For a long time, Notre Dame Cathedral remained the decoration and main religious center of all of France. But church services were not only held here. Since the temple was considered the safest place in the city, the rich brought their savings here for safekeeping. The cathedral cordially opened its doors not only to those in power, but also to the poor - pilgrims and local beggars could always count on temporary shelter within the walls of the mighty sanctuary. The high 69-meter bell tower played the role of a watchtower from which the approaches to the city were monitored.
However, starting from the seventeenth century, the cathedral had to go through difficult times. During the reign of Louis XIV, stained glass windows and graves were partially destroyed. The French Revolution (1789-1799) became even more destructive for the centuries-old temple. The rioters plundered the cathedral, dismantled the spiers and, on the orders of their leader, Maximilian Robespierre, desecrated the chiseled statues. Sculptures of French kings were beheaded and thrown from the gallery, graves were destroyed, bells were melted, and statues of the Virgin Mary on the altar were replaced by a sculpture of the Goddess of Liberty. But everything could have ended even more tragically, since the rebels initially planned to blow up the cathedral, but agreed to preserve the building on the condition that the Parisians would pay for the needs of the revolution. The sanctuary was declared the Temple of Reason and turned into... a wine warehouse.
Only in 1802 was the looted cathedral returned to the fold of the church. The condition of God's temple was so deplorable that during the coronation of Napoleon (1804), the once luxurious halls had to be draped with fabric to hide their terrible condition.
Over the next three decades, Notre-Dame de Paris slowly collapsed and fell into disrepair. It was only after the publication of Hugo’s novel that attention was paid to the building again. In 1841-1846. A large-scale restoration was carried out, during which not only the destroyed objects were restored, but also new elements appeared: statues, a spire, a gallery of chimeras.
ARCHITECTURE OF NOTRE DAME DE PARIS - A MASTERPIECE SYMBIOSIS OF ROMANESK AND GOTHIC STYLES
The architects of the main Christian church in Paris managed to harmoniously combine two styles - Romanesque and Gothic. Thanks to this duality, the cathedral has a recognizable unique appearance, which was preserved during the latest restoration work.
Modern Notre Dame de Paris is a huge building 130 m long, 35 m high (towers - 36 m) and 50 m wide. At the same time, the temple can accommodate more than 9 thousand people.
One of the main decorations of the cathedral is the colored stained glass windows that replace the walls. This is where the largest stained glass panels in Europe are located (the diameter of the central stained glass window is 9.6 m). The temple houses unique Christian relics; the most valuable shrine is the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ.
The famous French cathedral is a visually spectacular Bible. On the walls of the temple and inside the building, with the help of sculptures and paintings, the entire history of Christianity is depicted - from the moment of the Fall to the Last Judgment. It’s worth coming here both to offer your prayers to God and to simply walk through the majestic structure to the mesmerizing sounds of the organ.
And throughout the country, more than 13 million people visit it every year.
Since the 18th century, Notre-Dame de Paris was considered the center of the city and all distances were measured from it. The coronation of emperors and royal weddings took place in the temple, noble people kept their valuables in it, and beggars found shelter here.
How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Metro
- Line 4, station "Cite" or "St-Michel"
- Lines 1 and 11, station Hôtel de Ville
- Line 10, station Maubert-Mutualité or Cluny – La Sorbonne
- Lines 7, 11, 14, station Châtelet
- By RER high-speed metro trains - lines B and C, station Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame
The temple has two entrances:
- The main entrance is from the central facade, near which there is a timetable indicating the beginning of the mass. If you arrive at this time, you can hear the sounds of a unique organ or live singing
- The entrance located on the left side facade leads to the observation deck of the towers.
If you look at the central facade, there is a free public toilet underground on the right, the entrance to which resembles the entrance to the subway.
Opening hours of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019
- Every day from 7:45 to 18:45. On Saturdays and Sundays until 19:15
- Observation deck and gallery of chimeras:
- Every day except January 1, May 1 and December 25
- From April 1 to September 30 from 10:00 to 18:30
- From October 1 to March 31 from 10:00 to 17:30
- In July and August, on Fridays and Saturdays, the observation deck is open until 23:00
- You can book a time that is convenient for you through the free application www.vnequeue.rf (JeFile) in the Appstore or Googleplay, or in the terminals directly in the cathedral.
Ticket prices for Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019
- The cathedral is an active temple of the Catholic Church. the entrance is free. Visitors with large bags and backpacks are not allowed. At the entrance there is a search with metal detectors. On weekends and holidays there is a huge queue at the entrance, so it is better to choose a weekday to visit.
- There is an observation deck at the cathedral; entrance is paid. The highest point is on the south tower, but the most memorable views are from the gallery of chimeras on the facade of the cathedral, overlooking the square. It is worth keeping in mind that you can only climb up by climbing 422 steps. The Chimera Gallery is located at an altitude of 387 steps. Ticket prices for the observation deck of Notre Dame Cathedral:
- For adults - 10 euros
- For children under 18 years old accompanied by adults - free
- For persons from 18 to 25 years old, EU citizens - free
- For persons from 18 to 25 years old, non-EU citizens – 8 euros
History of Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the site where the Halo-Roman Temple of Jupiter stood in the first century, and later, in 528, the first Christian church, St. Stephen's Basilica.
In 1163, Bishop Maurice de Sully decided to build a new temple here, the first stone of which was laid by King Louis VII of France and Pope Alexander III.
Construction took place over 180 years, starting in 1163. The towers of Notre-Dame de Paris were built in 1245, and the entire construction and interior decoration were completed in 1345. The temple could accommodate nine thousand people and it was the largest early Gothic temple in Europe.
During its history, Notre-Dame de Paris has seen many important events. King Henry IV was crowned here, Mary Stuart and Francis II were married here in 1422, and Napoleon's coronation took place here in 1804.
The temple was badly damaged during the revolution, when the Jacobins, mistaking the biblical kings for the kings of France, removed their heads, the church utensils were melted down, only the large bells survived. The temple was saved from final destruction by Robespierre's decision to close it, turning it into a Temple of Reason and placing a granary in it.
In March 1831, Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris was published, in which the author described how Quasimodo watched the execution of Esmeralda from one of the temple towers. The writer noted that one of the main goals of his novel is to inspire the nation with a love of architecture.
After the publication of the work, a movement for the preservation of Gothic monuments began in France and throughout Europe. The Parisian authorities also began restoration of the temple. Under the leadership of the architect Eugene Viollet-de-Ducon, sculptures of 28 kings of Judah were restored and a gallery of chimeras was created, and a Gothic spire, dismantled by the revolutionaries, was built.
Architecture
In the design of Notre Dame Cathedral, techniques that were unusual for that time were used, many of which later became classic. Thus, the facade of the temple is made in the form of the Latin letter “H” with two towers, the main building is crowned with a high openwork spire, and the outside of the building is decorated with a large number of sculptures and bas-reliefs, pointed arches and rose windows.
The architecture contains a mixture of Romanesque style, which is characterized by massiveness and severity, with early Gothic, which gives the building lightness and upward direction.
The main western façade is divided into three tiers, the lower of which consists of three portals:
- On the left portal there is a composition “Glory to the Blessed Virgin”, depicting the Madonna and Child, two angels, a bishop with an assistant and a king. The lower part depicts the story of Anna and Joseph, and the upper part depicts stories from the life of the savior - the Magi, Christmas and the Annunciation
- In the central portal there is a three-tiered painting of the Last Judgment, above which rises a sculpture of the formidable Judge of the world, Christ, surrounded by the apostles.
- The right portal depicts Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and scenes from her life.
These sculptural compositions are one of the best works of the Middle Ages, representing the entire religious history of Christianity from the Fall to the Last Judgment.
The middle tier depicts 28 statues of biblical kings, and in the center is a 13th-century rose window. The upper tier is formed by towers 69 meters high, which were the tallest in Paris at that time.
There is no wall painting inside Notre-Dame de Paris, but thanks to stained glass windows and sunlight, the walls of the temple play with a variety of colors - blue and purple, orange and red. In the western, northern and southern facades there are three round rose windows with a diameter of up to 13 meters, the stained glass windows of which depict about eighty scenes from the Old Testament, the earthly life of the Savior and the Mother of God.
But Notre-Dame de Paris is famous not only for its architecture and design; it houses one of the great relics of Christianity - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ. Among the gifts to the temple are cups, valuable manuscripts and vestments of bishops, a nail and a piece of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Height of Notre Dame Cathedral
- The height of Notre Dame Cathedral is 35 meters, length is 130 m, width is 48 m, tower height is 69 meters.
- The largest bell, Emmanuel, is installed in the eastern part, its weight is 13 tons, including the tongue-beater - 500 kg, but this bell rings only on special occasions. The ringing of the remaining bells can be heard daily at 8-00 and at 19-00.
Official website of Notre Dame Cathedral
www.tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr (information on tickets to the observation deck)
Notre Dame Cathedral is a functioning temple, where daily services are held using modern technology. The screen displays biblical scenes and the text of prayer in English and French. You will hear the pleasant music of the largest organ in France.
Altar of the North-Dame with kneeling statues of Louis XIII and Louis XIVTemples have been located in this place since time immemorial; even in the era of the Romans, there was a temple dedicated to Jupiter. Later, the Merovingians, who ruled Gaul in 500-571, built the Cathedral of St. Etienne here.
Notre Dame Cathedral was founded in 1163 by Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, and the cornerstone was laid by Pope Alexander III. Its construction lasted until 1345, that is, it took almost two centuries. During this time, the project was led by dozens of architects, which did not stop them from erecting a beautiful and organic ensemble. According to historical data, several other churches, both Christian and pagan, previously existed on the same site.
The construction of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris took place with the participation of many architects, but its main creators, who made the greatest contribution, are considered to be Pierre de Montreuil and Jean de Chelles. The building was founded during the reign of Louis VII. It was then that the Gothic style in architecture became popular, which was used by architects. This direction was successfully mixed with the Romanesque style from the traditions of Normandy, which gave the cathedral a unique look.
Painting "Coronation of Napoleon I" (December 2, 1804), painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1807
The history of France and Notre Dame cannot be separated, because it was here that the knights offered their prayers when going on the Crusades, the coronation of Napoleon, the celebration of the victory over Hitler’s troops and many other events took place.
North Dame is shrouded in an atmosphere of mysticism and dark romance
West façade of Notre Dame CathedralNotre Dame Cathedral suffered greatly from inept reconstructions during the events of the late 18th century, and later due to popular neglect. Thus, the French Revolution almost deprived the world of this unique architectural monument; they even wanted to burn it. Many sculptures were broken or beheaded, stained glass windows were destroyed, and precious utensils were looted. The building was declared the Temple of Reason, then the center of the Cult of the Supreme Being, and later simply turned into a food warehouse. The architectural ensemble was saved from complete destruction by Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre Dame de Paris,” which occupied a central place in the story of the hunchback’s love for a beautiful gypsy. The publication of the work not only made the writer famous, but also drew the attention of the general public to the exceptional historical as well as aesthetic value of the ancient building.
This is where the “Zero Kilometer” is located - the starting point of all distances in FranceIt was decided to reconstruct Notre Dame according to all the rules of ancient technologies. Viollet-le-Duc successfully coped with such a difficult task, since the architect had knowledge of the construction methods of the ancient masters who worked on the construction of the temple. The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral lasted more than a quarter of a century. During this time, the facades and interior decoration were restored, the sculpture gallery and part of the gargoyles destroyed by the revolutionaries were reconstructed, and all the remaining infernal “guards” were returned to their rightful place.
Additionally, a spire more than 95 meters high was built and installed on the roof. In subsequent years, Parisians treated their shrine with extreme reverence. It is noteworthy that the temple was practically not damaged during the period of two World Wars. At the end of the 20th century, another restoration was initiated, which made it possible to completely clean the building from city dust and return the sandstone from which the façade is made to its original golden hue.
View of Notre Dame Cathedral through the archFacade and gargoyles
The most popular attribute of the external decoration of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris remains stone demonic creatures. Gargoyles are present here in large numbers and are intended not only for decoration, but also to drain water from the numerous drains on the roof. The fact is that the unusually complex structure of the roof contributes to the accumulation of moisture due to precipitation, since it cannot drain as freely as from ordinary houses. This can lead to the development of mold, dampness and destruction of the stone, so high-quality gutters are a must for any Gothic cathedral.
Traditionally, unattractive pipe exits were disguised with figures of gargoyles, chimeras, dragons, and less often, people or real animals. Many see hidden meanings in these demonic images, so there is a lot of scope for imagination here. It is noteworthy that at the time of construction there were no stone demons on the cathedral; they were installed at the suggestion of the restorer Viollet-le-Duc, who used this medieval tradition.
Gargoyles of Notre Dame
The main façade is decorated with stone statues and has three portals. The main one is located in the middle, its arches support seven statues on each side, and the main decor is relief scenes of the Last Judgment. The right portal is dedicated to Saint Anne, where the Blessed Virgin and Child are depicted, and the left one is dedicated to the Mother of God, with the signs of the zodiac and the image of the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The huge doors are decorated with forged relief images.
The already mentioned spire on the roof replaced the one that was dismantled at the end of the 18th century. The design is decorated with four groups of apostles, as well as animals corresponding to the evangelists. All the statues face the French capital, with the exception of the patron saint of architects, St. Thomas, who seems to be admiring the spire.
Almost all the stained glass windows are quite modern, made during the restoration of the temple in the 19th century. Only in the central compass rose are some medieval parts preserved. The pattern of this large-scale structure (9.5 meters in diameter) made of colored glass depicts Mary, as well as rural works, the signs of the Zodiac, human virtues and sins. The northern and southern facades are equipped with the largest roses that exist in Europe. Each of them is about 13 meters in diameter.
Facade of Notre Dame, including 3 portals: the Virgin, the Last Judgment and St. Anne, as well as the Gallery of the Kings from above
Interior of Notre Dame Cathedral
North Rose of Notre Dame CathedralThe design in longitudinal section is a cross, in the center of which there is a complex of sculptural images of various gospel scenes. Interestingly, there are no internal supporting walls here; their function is performed by multifaceted columns. A large number of artistic carvings are filled with unearthly light, which is painted in different colors, passing through the glass of several roses. On the right side of Notre Dame, tourists can admire the wonderful sculptures, paintings and other works of art that are traditionally presented to Our Lady every year on the first of May. The majestic central chandelier was made according to sketches by Viollet-le-Duc; after reconstruction, it replaced the chandelier, melted down during the French Revolution.
Interior of Notre Dame
Stained glass window of Notre Dame. Due to the abundance of biblical scenes in the Middle Ages, the cathedral was called the “Bible for those who don’t read.”Between the portal and the higher tier is the Gallery of the Kings, where sculptures of Old Testament rulers are exhibited. The revolutionaries ruthlessly destroyed the original statues, so they were made anew. At the end of the 20th century, fragments of individual sculptures were found under one of the Parisian houses. It turned out that the owner bought them in troubled times in order to bury them with honors, and later built his own home on this place.
It is impossible not to mention the majestic organ installed in Notre Dame Cathedral. It was equipped during the construction of the temple, and was rebuilt and reconstructed many times. Today, this organ is the largest in France in terms of the number of registers and the second in the number of pipes, some of which have survived since the Middle Ages.
Organ in Notre Dame Cathedral
South bell tower
South tower of Notre Dame CathedralIf you want to enjoy Parisian panoramas that are not inferior in beauty to the view from the Eiffel Tower, you should definitely climb the South Tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. A spiral staircase of 387 steps leads here, climbing which you will see the main bell of the cathedral, Emmanuel, and you will also be able to see the gargoyles in close proximity. It is believed that they look so carefully to the west because they wait for sunset, after which they come to life every night.
Museum and treasury
There is a museum in the cathedral, where every visitor can learn about the history of the temple in detail, listen to many famous and little-known stories associated with this place. Various exhibits that directly relate to the centuries-old life of Notre Dame are stored here.
In the Treasury of the North-Dame de ParisFrom the shrine you can go to the underground Treasury, located under the square in front of the cathedral. It contains historical and religious relics: utensils, precious art objects, and so on. But the most important exhibits are the Crown of Thorns of Christ, one of the nails with which Jesus was crucified, and a fragment of that same cross.
Gargoyle of Notre DameProcedure and cost of visiting
To get inside Notre Dame Cathedral, you will have to wait in a long line. According to statistics, every day, depending on the time of year, from 30 to 50 thousand people cross the threshold of Notre Dame. Entrance to the cathedral itself is free, but to climb the bell tower each adult will have to pay 15 euros. Those under 26 years of age can enter for free. The cost of visiting the Treasury is 4 euros for adults, 2 € for young people 12-26 years old, 1 € for visitors 6-12 years old. Children under 6 years old can enter free of charge. In addition, on all Fridays of Lent, as well as on the first days of each month, treasures are brought out for public viewing free of charge. Such exhibitions usually begin around three o'clock in the afternoon.
Each visitor has the opportunity to use an audio guide in English, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese. The cost of this service is 5 euros.
How to get there
The full address of the shrine is: 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, Ile de la Cit, 75004 Paris. The Chalete, Isle de la Cité and Hotel de Ville metro stations are a five-minute walk away. In addition, you can use bus routes No. 21, 38, 47 or 85. On weekdays, Notre Dame Cathedral is open from 8.00 to 18.45, on Saturdays and Sundays from 7.00 to 15.00. Every Saturday services are held here at 5.45 and also at 18.15.
Notre Dame Cathedral illuminated
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