Notre Dame, Paris

== CATHEDRALE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS ==

"Each face, each stone of this venerable monument is not only a page of
the history of the country, but also of the history of knowledge and art....
Time is the architect, the people are the builder."
-- Victor Hugo, Notre-Dame de Paris.

=== INTRODUCTION ===

I love Paris.
In fact I could have written that famous song, ...
...of Light', is the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral.
Notre Dame Cathedral is situated on the 'Ile de la Cité,' (the original birthplace of Paris), the area of Paris that divides the city's right and left banks. The Ile de la Cite is surrounded by the Seine River, the cathedral is arguably the most striking gothic cathedral in the world--and is undoubtedly the most famous. Started in the 12th century and completed in the 14th, Notre Dame Cathedral ... more

CATHEDRALE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

"Each face, each stone of this venerable monument is not only a page of
the history of the country, but also of the history of knowledge and art....
Time is the architect, the people are the builder."
-- Victor Hugo, Notre-Dame de Paris.

INTRODUCTION

I love Paris.
In fact I could have written that famous song, 'I love Paris in the Springtime."!!
Because whenever you visit Paris the sights you see and experiences you have can differ on each trip. Depending on the time of year, or even the time of day, each experience can change as readily as the weather does. I have never once on any of my visits been disappointed with my trip.

One place that I always love to visit, one that epitomises 'The City of Light', is the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral.
Notre Dame Cathedral is situated on the 'Ile de la Cité,' (the original birthplace of Paris), the area of Paris that divides the city's right and left banks. The Ile de la Cite is surrounded by the Seine River, the cathedral is arguably the most striking gothic cathedral in the world--and is undoubtedly the most famous. Started in the 12th century and completed in the 14th, Notre Dame Cathedral was the very heartbeat of medieval Paris. Notre-Dame dominates the Seine and the Ile-de-la-Cité. Cathedrale Notre de Paris means "Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris"--"our lady" in this case being the Virgin Mary. The cathedral is almost nine hundred years old and played a key role in Victor Hugo's 'Hunchback of Notre-Dame'. The bells are still rung several times daily, by human beings (but not by hunchbacks, as far as I know).

A VERY BRIEF HISTORY

To visit Notre Dame is to take a look at French History. It was on the site that Romans built a temple to Jupiter and the Emperor Tiberius. In 1163 Pope Alexander III laid the cathedral's foundation stone but the final touches were not completed until 1345, more than two hundred years later. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral was a place where the homeless slept and were fed, passion plays were performed and merchants sold everything from ostrich eggs to elephant tusks. Beautifully restored and accessible to the public, the main sanctuary at Notre Dame is a chance to walk through the middle ages
During the 12th century, the school adjoining the cathedral became the academic centre of Europe, eventually becoming the Sorbonne.
During the revolution the cathedral was renamed the "Temple of Reason" and, shortly after, it was auctioned off to a demolition contractor for scrap building material. The cathedral was never actually demolished but left in tatters.
During the 19th century, writer Victor Hugo and some artists drew attention to the dangerous state of disrepair into which the Cathedral had fallen.
Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc began restoring the cathedral in 1844 - this restoration lasted 23 years. Besides bringing new life to the rose windows and the statues, he also designed Notre-Dame's spire, a new feature of the building, and the sacristy. The houses that were in the vicinity of the cathedral were torn down to allow better views of the structure.
During the Commune of 1871, the Cathedral was nearly burned by the Communard, but Notre-Dame survived the Commune essentially unscathed.
The Te Deum Mass took place in the cathedral to celebrate the liberation of Paris in August 26, 1944. The Requiem Mass of General Charles de Gaulle took place in the cathedral on November 12, 1970.
In 1991, a major restoration program was undertaken. It was expected to last 10 years but continued well into the 21st century - the cleaning and restoration of the old sculptures was an exceptionally precise job. Now the work is finished and the scaffolding is down and the result is spectacular: the stone architecture and sculptures gleam in their original colour.
To see the wonderful building today it is amazing to think that revolution, invasion and neglect all took their toll on the cathedral throughout the centuries but it remarkably survived as one of the most enduring symbols of the original central city of Paris.

VISITING NOTRE DAME

If you are planning on visiting this cathedral it, I can't recommend enough that you make an effort to see it ALL.
When you are on Ile de la Cite, the cathedral is so massive that you cannot see it all. From the Ile I did see a lot of intricate and fascinating details, but it wasn't until I left Ile de la Cite and was looking at it from a little distance that I could appreciate the building as a whole. Take time to take in the building in all its splendour - The two towers at the front of the building, the spires, the famous flying buttresses and the sheer size of it.
I personally think that the best view of the cathedral from the land is from the Ile St. Louis - directly adjacent to Ile de la Cite. For another magnificent view of Notre Dame walk across the Pont des Arts. The point of the Ile de cite protrudes out into the Seine, is right there in front of you, and just ahead is the Pont Neuf Bridge, the oldest bridge in Paris, behind which, is, of course, the Cathedral in all it's glory. To the left is the famous left bank and the ascetic Conciergerie,.

The best view, without doubt, is from the River Seine. For me, the best time to see it from the water is in the early evening. It is in the half-light that you can fully appreciate the gothic look of the cathedral in the lengthening shadows, watching the gargoyles, seemingly chasing each other around the rooftops. The sight is imposing, captivating and even a little bit spooky - was that Quasimodo I just saw leaping along the buttresses!!
The sights and sounds of Paris - the City of Lights - from the River Seine can not be compared to anything else in Paris. Especially the sight of Notre Dame

One of the fascinating things I always look for upon approaching the cathedral grounds is the brass compass star, "Point Zero des Routes de France" fixed in the pavement in front of Notre Dame This is considered point zero and throughout France highway signs tell you how far you are from Paris. It is from this point that all the distances are measured.

Notre Dame is an enormous example of Gothic architecture, having been built in stages to its current size over many, many years.
What stuck out to me the first time I visited the cathedral, and something that you don't notice in photographs, was that the entire entryway is unbelievably intricately carved. Cathedrals at the time of the construction of Notre Dame had many purposes, not the least which was to glorify not only God (or in this case to the Virgin Mary), but also the reigning sovereign, clerics and whoever else held power at the time. There was no such thing as too elaborate. You need to look up, down, left, right - in every direction in fact, to get the true feeling of the massive and intricate entranceway.

I can't believe that anybody could fail to be awestruck at the carvings of the various saints and rulers that form a long line above the entrance. Each of these larger than life statues is carved to perfection - take for example Saint Denis, who decapitated in life, holds his head in his hand at Notre Dame forever.

One of the more famed aspects of Notre Dame is its stained glass
The highlight is the front Rose Window, an enormous circular stained glass masterpiece. If you stand in the direct centre of the building, you not only feel the full impact of the cathedral, but you also get a great view of the famous Rose Window, light and colour shimmers and radiates through the glass.

The enormous sanctuary of the cathedral is surrounded with small alcoves dedicated to various saints This vast room can seat up to 6,000 people for a service. To enter this section of the cathedral is free, and although there is plenty of security it doesn't get in your way at all.

It's worth some thought as to whether the trip to the top is essential sightseeing. You need to climb lots of very windy stairs until you reach a small balcony. You are then rewarded with a famous view of the city, but if time or cost or aching joints are of any concern, this may well be a place to skip

Notre Dame is a must-see for anyone visiting Paris. Accessing the upper levels is difficult and not particularly rewarding and I would probably not revisit that portion of the cathedral.
Spending the time and money to view Notre Dame from the Seine on one of the Bateaux is a far better use of your time and money. But see it you must, it's an experience you will not forget.

VISITORS INFORMATION

Opening hours

The cathedral: is open all year-round daily 8am-6:45pm
The towers and crypt: are open Apr-Sep daily 9:30am-6pm; Oct-Mar daily 10am-5:15pm
The museum is open Sat-Sun 2-5pm
The Treasury is open Mon-Sat 9:30am-6pm, Sun 2-6pm

Prices

Cathedral: free admission
Towers: Euro6.10 adults, Euro4.10 ages 18-25 and seniors, free for children under 18
Treasury: Euro3 adults, Euro2 ages 12-25 and seniors, Euro1 ages 5-11, free for children under 5

Public transport

Métro: Cité or St-Michel
RER: St-Michel

Address and telephone

6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité, 4e, Paris, France

01-42-34-56-10

Website

www.notredamedeparis.fr

Summary: You simply can't visit Paris and not Notre Dame

 

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