Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris- Notre Dame de Paris is one of the most famous Gothic temples in the world. It is located in the center of the capital of France, in the eastern part of the Ile de la Cité. Notre Dame Cathedral, along with the Eiffel Tower, is a symbol of Paris and the whole 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 the poor found shelter here.
How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Metro
- Line 4 Cite or St-Michel Station
- Line 1 and 11, Hôtel de Ville station
- Line 10, station Maubert-Mutualité or Cluny – La Sorbonne
- Line 7, 11, 14 Châtelet station
- By RER 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 hangs a timetable indicating the beginning of the mass. If you come by 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, then on the right under the ground there is a free public toilet, the entrance to which resembles the entrance to the subway.
Opening hours of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019
The cathedral burned down on April 15, 2019. It was possible to save the walls and unique stained-glass windows in three rose windows. The sculptures on the roof also survived, as they had been removed for restoration a few days earlier. They managed to evacuate the crown of thorns of Christ and other relics, as well as works of art from the cathedral. More than a billion euros were collected for the restoration of the temple in two days.
History of Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral was erected 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 was carried out for more than 180 years, starting in 1163. The towers of Notre-Dame de Paris were built in 1245, and the entire construction and interior decoration was completed in 1345. Nine thousand people could be in the temple and it was the most big temple early Gothic in Europe.
During its history, Notre Dame de Paris has seen a lot important events. King Henry IV was crowned here, Mary Stuart and Francis II were married in 1422, and Napoleon was crowned 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, church utensils were melted down, only large bells survived. The temple was saved from final destruction by the decision of Robespierre 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 towers of the temple. 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 in France and throughout Europe, a movement began to preserve Gothic monuments. The authorities of Paris also began to restore the temple. Under the guidance of the architect Eugène Viollet-de-Ducon, sculptures of 28 Jewish kings were restored and a gallery of chimeras was created, as well as a Gothic spire, dismantled by the revolutionaries, was built.
Architecture
In the design of the Notre Dame Cathedral, unusual techniques for that time were used, many of which later became classical. So, 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 outside the building is decorated with a large number of sculptures and bas-reliefs, lancet arches and windows - roses.
In architecture there is a mixture of the Romanesque style, which is characterized by massiveness and rigor, with early Gothic, which gives the building lightness and aspiration to the sky.
The main western facade is divided into three tiers, the lower of which consists of three portals:
- On the left portal is the 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 picture of the Last Judgment, above which rises a sculpture of the formidable Judge of the world of Christ, surrounded by the apostles
- The right portal depicts St. Anna, mother of the Virgin and scenes from her life.
These sculptural compositions are one of the best works of the Middle Ages, representing the entire religious history Christianity from the Fall to the Last Judgment.
On the middle tier there are 28 statues of biblical kings, and in the center there is a 13th century rose window. The upper tier is formed by towers 69 meters high, which were at that time the highest in Paris.
There are no wall paintings inside Notre Dame de Paris, but thanks to the colored stained glass windows and the sun's rays, the walls of the temple play with a variety of colors - blue and purple, orange and red. Three round rose windows with a diameter of up to 13 meters shine in the western, northern and southern facades, the stained-glass windows of which depict about eighty scenes from 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 decoration, but one of the great relics of Christianity, the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ, is kept here. Among the gifts to the temple are bowls, 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 Notre Dame Cathedral is 35 meters high, 130 meters long, 48 meters wide, and 69 meters high.
- The largest Emmanuel bell is installed in the eastern part, its weight is 13 tons, including the mallet tongue - 500 kg, but this bell rings only on special occasions.
virtual walks
Notre Dame Cathedral official website
www.tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr (information about tickets to the observation deck)
Notre Dame Cathedral is a functioning church where divine services are held daily using the achievements of modern technology. The screen displays biblical stories and the text of the prayer in English and French. You will hear the pleasant music of the largest organ in France.
The real heart of Paris and all of France is the majestic ancient Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. The brightest monument medieval culture and architecture repeatedly stood on the verge of death, but endured all the hardships allotted to him with honor. For more than a thousand years, Notre Dame Cathedral in France has been keeping the mystical energy of these places. Millions of tourists make the pilgrimage to touch its walls. Sung by poets and writers, the temple proudly bears the crown of the symbol of the French capital. There are very few buildings left in the world today that can compete with Notre Dame Cathedral in majesty, the depth of historical destiny.
It is not necessary to be a believing Christian to fully appreciate the cathedral. Foreign tourists in Paris definitely come to Notre Dame Cathedral. He has an official website that tells the history of the place, you can sign up for a tour, find out more interesting information.
History of Notre Dame Cathedral.
On the territory where Notre Dame Cathedral is located, in pagan times there was a temple where they worshiped Jupiter. Even then, these lands were considered sacred, filled with mysterious power. When Christianity came to France, the once important pagan shrine was destroyed. Its place was taken by the Basilica of St. Stephen. This building was actually the first Christian temple medieval Paris. The corner of the island of Sieve, where Notre Dame stands today, has always been especially revered by the locals.
1163. The beginning of the construction of the cathedral. On a randomly chosen place (according to the order of King Louis 7), the first stone of the future building was laid. In the work, the skeletons of the foundation of the Romanesque cathedral were used.
The construction took place in two stages (actually dragged on for 200 years). For Medieval Europe, such construction was familiar. In addition, for many centuries Notre Dame was restored, renovated, rebuilt. The main altar was built relatively quickly: it was ready 20 years after the start of work. The future cathedral was used as a burial place for the aristocracy, the rulers of France.
Two centuries of construction work have created the original appearance of Notre Dame. The sacred place remained untouched for half a millennium. The greatest architects of medieval France, Pierre de Montero and Jean de Shelle, had a hand in its creation. De Montero is the architect of many French architectural monuments of the Middle Ages:
- Abbey of Saint-Denis;
- Abbey Saint-Germain-des-Pres;
- Other buildings in the style of "radiant Gothic".
Both creators after death are buried in their greatest structure.
1789 By that time, the building was dilapidated. No one was engaged in maintaining order in the temple. The decline began under Louis 14. The Great French Revolution, the upheavals that swept the country, did not pass by the great cathedral. Maximilian Robespierre declared Notre Dame a symbol of obscurantism. The revolutionaries destroyed the spire on the main tower of the building. They were going to blow it up. The rebels demolished the heads of numerous statues of Notre Dame Cathedral, plundered the rich treasury. The caring people of France obediently paid taxes to the treasury of the Jacobins, keeping Robespierre from blasphemous acts.
1804. Napoleon Bonaparte chose Notre Dame as the site of his imperial coronation. Much for the cathedral did not save it from further destruction. In the following decades, the question of the demolition of the temple was raised several times.
1831. An event that turned the history of Notre Dame happened. Victor Hugo's novel "Notre Dame Cathedral" shook the hearts of Parisians so much, exalted the ancient temple so much that it literally saved the historic building from destruction. No one remained indifferent to the description of dilapidation, the decline of the cathedral. Hugo did an excellent job. Inspired the French to love the monument of historical architecture. 10 years later, a full-scale restoration of Notre Dame de Paris began. The building has acquired a familiar modern look. The famous gargoyles and chimeras of Notre Dame Cathedral appeared, a find by the architect Viollet-le-Duc (the father of modern architectural restoration).
21 century. By the 850th anniversary, Notre Dame Cathedral was restored inside: the organ was updated, new bells were cast. For tourists, a "pilgrim's route" has been developed, opening the veil over all the secrets of Notre Dame. The number of annual pilgrims reaches 14 million, making the Cathedral one of the top tourist attractions in France.
Treasury of Notre Dame de Paris
Such a famous church building could not do without rich Christian relics. The most famous value of Notre Dame Cathedral is the crown of thorns. France received the crown of Christ in the 13th century, but it was transferred to the cathedral after the end of the French Revolution. Thanks for the important acquisition is King Louis the 9th.
In addition, there are also other relics associated with Jesus Christ:
- one of the nails with which the body of the Messiah was nailed to the cross;
- cross detail.
Today there is a debate whether the nail kept in Notre Dame can really be called a Christian value. Similar treasures are stored in multiple copies all over the Earth, although there are only 5 original nails. This does not prevent people from coming to the temple, full of confidence that such important elements of the execution of Christ are stored here.
A separate value of Notre Dame is its organ. First installed in the 15th century, it has been repeatedly reconstructed (1733, 1788, 1868). The organ was computerized for the convenience of players in 1992, but has not lost its original sound. The instrument has been restored to its historical appearance from the era of Louis XVI.
Today, the organ has over a hundred registers, seven and a half thousand pipes, some of which have been preserved since the 18th century. In France, there are no instruments that can compete with the Notre Dame organ in terms of scale. At least three titular organists are involved in playing the organ simultaneously. Music lovers of the world rightly consider the sound of the Parisian instrument to be amazing.
Notre Dame Cathedral architecture
The architectural style of the building is typical of the Gothic period, but retains the features of the Romanesque early medieval architecture of Normandy. The structure of the Cathedral is of strict symmetry: two famous towers on the facade, three horizontal and vertical parts.
The building cannot be called monumental. But for its time it was large: the maximum height is 69 meters, the height of the facade is 35 meters. The length of the Cathedral is almost 150 meters. To climb the bell tower, you have to overcome almost 400 steps. It's worth it, because the bells of Notre Dame are a separate pleasure. Each of them is named after female names. Emmanuel is the largest bell, its weight reaches 12 tons, and the “tongue” weighs another half a ton. Named after the heroine Hugo Belle, the oldest bell was cast in 1631. It was a divine miracle that saved the bells from looting during the French Revolution. You can hear the sounds of the chimes over Paris every morning at 8.
In addition, a beautiful Parisian landscape opens up from the platform of the bell tower. Many find it more interesting and romantic than the view from the Eiffel Tower.
Three entrances lead to the Cathedral. Thematic design of the Central portal - Last Judgment. Here is a symbolic image of all segments of the population:
- power and aristocracy - the king risen from the grave;
- clergy - the Pope;
- the rest of the population are female and male warriors.
The left portal bears the name of the Madonna and Child. Here is one of the most famous sculptures ("Glory of the Blessed Virgin"). Thematically, the portal is decorated with paintings depicting the most important milestones in the life of the Virgin and the birth of Christ. On the right side is the portal of St. Anne.
The chimeras I have already mentioned are shrouded in many legends. They are considered the guardians of the cathedral, who come to life at night. The gargoyles crowning the drainpipes also "come to life" according to the legends. If you believe the myths, these sculptures keep the ancient building from ill-wishers and adversity.
Cathedral inside
On the central facade of the building is the famous stained glass rose of Notre Dame Cathedral. The window diameter is more than 10 meters. Other stained glass rose windows are also on the other facades (their size is smaller). Around them are decorated with scenes from the Old Testament.
stained glass windows business card places. There are no walls inside the cathedral, only columns. Stained-glass windows play an important role in zoning space. Notre Dame is especially beautiful in clear, sunny weather: the light plays with multi-colored glass, creating unforgettable play of color on the gray ancient stone. Although interior decoration The temple is simple, thanks to the stained-glass windows it has a unique look and volume.
During the restoration of the 19th century, the central chandelier appeared in the Cathedral. Viollet-le-Duc, who supervised the work, personally drew sketches of the lighting fixture. Material - bronze, covered with silver plating.
You can not call the interior of Notre Dame rich. It is different from what we are used to. Orthodox churches. There is no luxury, no gold. Stained glass overflows, ancient statues and originality of architecture - this is what makes Notre Dame majestic and luxurious with all its simplicity.
How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral can be seen in many feature films and documentaries. Not a single historical film about the life of Paris is complete without a view of the temple. It is much better to see the building in real life.
The ideal excursion is on foot (through the Fourth arrondissement of Paris, the oldest district). The Ile de la Cite will surprise you with many architectural delights, not only Notre Dame de Paris: Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Place Dauphine.
Be sure to stop at the Cathedral Square. Here are the buildings of the 7th century, the archaeological museum "Crypt of the porch of Notre Dame". Also, attention is drawn to the "zero kilometer" - the point of intersection and the beginning of all French roads from the time of the medieval state.
The building is open from 8 am to 7 pm. 8:30 a.m. – Morning Mass begins. You can get inside for free. But for the ascent to the bells you will have to pay 15 euros. The treasury has a different mode: 9:30 - 18:30.
The easiest way to get to Notre Dame is by metro. Trains of 6 different lines go here. Remember the names of the stations where you need to get off:
- Saint Michel;
- La Sorbonne;
- Chatelet;
- Hotel de Ville.
There is also an electric train (RER), the exit station of which is called Notre-Dame.
If you don't want to take the subway, take a taxi. Any self-respecting taxi driver will take you to Notre Dame Cathedral with a breeze. There is not a single person in Paris who does not know the way to the most famous beautiful cathedral.
The symbol of Paris is now the Eiffel Tower, but the "heart" of Paris is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris. It was from him that we began our acquaintance with the French capital.
The cathedral, 35 meters high, stands on the Seine River on the Ile de la Cité. As a majestic hulk, it stands in the center of the city, the height of most of the houses in which is about 20 meters.
Notre Dame de Paris was built in a little less than 2 centuries from 1163 to 1345, although its main altar was consecrated as early as 1182.
The portals of the cathedral are richly decorated with biblical sculptures.
The Last Judgment is depicted at the central entrance to Notre Dame de Paris.
From the side, the cathedral looks rather severe. At the top sit gargoyles that have turned green from time to time, and the stained-glass windows of the cathedral from the outside look like dirty windows, and even behind bars.
The stained-glass windows located above are no longer protected so much and look openwork. By the way, from the inside of the cathedral, they look just great! But more on that below.
There is a small park behind Notre Dame Cathedral.
In the center of the park is a statue of Our Lady.
This park is worth a visit if only to see the back of the cathedral.
It differs significantly from the front facade, which most tourists look at.
For example, this spire is not visible from the square in front of the cathedral.
We return back. On the banks of the Seine in front of Notre Dame Cathedral stands a monument to Charlemagne.
We go inside the cathedral. He's impressive. It is said that the cathedral was built in such a way that all 10,000 inhabitants of medieval Paris could fit in it.
The cathedral is active. We are at the end of service. By the way, tourists are not forbidden to shoot in the Cathedral. They only ask to do it without a flash, so as not to disturb anyone.
And here are the legendary stained glass windows of Notre Dame de Paris.
Entrance to the cathedral is free, but there is a treasury in it, the entrance to which is paid separately.
Various relics, valuables, fragments of relics and especially expensive church items are collected here.
interesting Catholic tradition- install a Christmas nativity scene in churches.
In the center, as expected, a barn with a baby - Jesus and the Magi with gifts.
A separate part of the Notre Dame Cathedral is intended more for tourists. For example, there is a layout of the cathedral.
Anyone can light a candle here. Candles lie directly in boxes on which the cost of a candle is written. You take it, put the moentka in the box, put the candle.
There are in Notre Dame de Paris and Orthodox icon, donated by the cathedral Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Alexy II.
You can climb the towers of the cathedral, the famous gallery of chimeras. To do this, the truth will have to stand in line under the walls, looking at the hanging gargoyles.
The queue moves slowly, since the stairs to the towers of the cathedral are very narrow and in one of the places it is necessary to go up and down the same stairs on which two cannot disperse.
But if time and health allow, it's worth going upstairs.
Even in cloudy weather, a very interesting view opens up from here.
It is so high that the top is lost in the clouds.
The embankment of the River Seine, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The hill of Montmartre with the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur is lost in the fog.
The cathedral has many statues of fantastic animals - chimeras.
Some of them are looking at the city as if they are terribly worried about what is happening in Paris.
Others look at the angel, waiting for him to blow his trumpet.
Chimeras were installed on the cathedral in the middle of the 19th century, during the reconstruction of Notre Dame de Paris.
At the foot of the spire are the bronze figures of the apostles that have turned green from time to time.
And below, as far as visibility is enough - Paris ...
2015, Artyom Mochalov
And a masterpiece of Gothic architecture on a global scale. It is shrouded in centuries-old secrets and legends, survived the devastation and was reborn again. Despite the fact that the Archdiocese of Paris is located here, the religious object itself belongs to state property. The Catholic Church is given the right of gratuitous and indefinite use.
The cathedral rises above one of the islands of the Seine - Cite, located in the heart of the French capital. Around places of worship main events unfold in many works of art. The most famous is Victor Hugo's historical novel Notre Dame Cathedral, published in 1831 and becoming a world bestseller. Based on his motives, films were shot, operas were created, a ballet and a musical were staged. In addition, documentaries are devoted to Notre Dame de Paris, it is mentioned in varying degrees in feature films and cartoons, songs, catchphrases and even computer games.
Story
Presumably, on the site of Notre Dame de Paris, there was originally a pagan temple. In the 4th century it was replaced by an early Christian church built in the image and likeness of the ancient basilicas of Rome and Ravenna. In the 7th century, a new, more expanded cult building appeared - the temple of St. Stephen. It was periodically destroyed, but continued to be restored until Maurice de Sully, who accepted the Parisian bishopric in 1160, initiated the construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral, grandiose in scale and beauty.
The construction of Notre Dame de Paris began in 1163. The foundation stone of the temple was laid by Pope Alexander III, who was in Paris at that time. The work was carried out in several stages, in total - 182 years. They were completed in 1345, after finishing the entire cathedral.
Timeline of major events:
- 1177 - the walls of the choir were erected (the eastern part of the temple between the nave and the apse);
- 1182 - consecration of the altar by Cardinal Henri de Marsy, who had a bishopric;
- 1196 - the construction of the central nave was completed;
- 1200 - the design of the western (main) facade began;
- 1240 and 1250 - the cathedral towers were completed in turn - first the southern, and then the northern;
- mid-13th - early 14th centuries - transepts were enlarged, chapels were equipped, facades were completed.
During the construction of the iconic building, many architects have changed, which is reflected in the details, the difference in levels and the mixture of styles. The most significant masters who left their mark on the creation of the image of Notre Dame de Paris are the French architects Jean de Chelle and Pierre de Montreuil. They supervised the work in the period 1250-67.
Until the 18th century, significant modifications and reconstructions of the building were not carried out.
Great damage to the Cathedral of Notre Dame was inflicted during the French Revolution. And all because the Parisians refused to pay bribes for the needs of implementing the ideas of the liberation movement in other countries. In 1793, by personal order of Robespierre, the facade sculptures of the Jewish kings were beheaded, mistaking them for the figures of the French monarchs. In addition, unique stained-glass windows were damaged and a spire installed in the middle of the 13th century was demolished. The latter was restored only during restoration work in the 1840s.
On the threshold of the XIX century, Notre Dame de Paris was in a deplorable state. It was returned to the church in 1802, and in 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned and married here. Nevertheless, no one was engaged in the restoration of the cathedral, on the contrary, talk began about its demolition. The situation was saved thanks to V. Hugo, who wrote the novel Notre Dame Cathedral. The work was published in 1831, and after 10 years a grandiose restoration of the temple began, which lasted 23 years. At this time, not only the destroyed elements were restored, but new ones also appeared. The most remarkable was the gallery of chimeras, located on the upper platform of the facade. Such an unusual idea belonged to the French architect Viollet-le-Duc.
During its centuries-old history, the walls of Notre-Dame de Paris have seen coronations and abdications, marriages and baptisms, requiems and rehabilitation courts, the transfer of the crown of thorns of Christ to the bosom of the church and humiliating repentance. Moreover, the participants have always been the powers that be.
Architecture and exterior decoration of the cathedral
The western (main) facade of Notre Dame de Paris overlooks Cathedral Square, where you can see the zero kilometer of France, which is the starting point of all the country's roads passing through the capital of the state. There is also the archaeological museum "Crypt of the Notre-Dame porch", which presents ancient, medieval artifacts and objects from past centuries, found during excavations on the island of Cité. In front of the cathedral is an equestrian statue of Charlemagne, and on the south side of the temple is a monument to John Paul II, canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 2014.
How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral
Directly on the island of Cité is the station of the 4th metro line - "Cité", as well as bus stops:
- "Pont Neuf" - No. 58, 70;
- "Cité - Palais de Justice" - No. 21, 38, 85, 96
- "Cité - Parvis de Notre-Dame" - No. 47.
On the left bank of the Seine, high-speed trains RER B and RER C stop - station "Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame". On the right bank there is a metro station of lines 1, 7, 11 and 14 - "Châtelet".
24/7 car parks on the Ile de la Cité:
- Saemes notre dame- at Place du Parvis Notre-Dame, check-in from Rue la rue de la Cité;
- Lutèce-Cité - at Boulevard du Palais.
A photo report about the Notre Dame Cathedral can be viewed in the material posted on our website.
Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral) is one of the most popular attractions in the French capital. He is best known for the work of the same name by Victor Hugo. This one was a true patriot of his native country and with his work he tried to rekindle the love of the cathedral among his compatriots. Needless to say, he succeeded quite well. After all, there was no longer any doubt about the love of the French for this building: during the French Revolution, the townspeople meekly paid a bribe to Robespierre, who otherwise threatened to destroy Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. We offer you to learn more about this Parisian attraction, the history of its creation and how it can surprise tourists today.
Notre Dame de Paris (France) - the architectural inspiration of an entire nation
This building was erected at a time when most of the inhabitants of the country were uneducated people who transmitted the history of religion exclusively by word of mouth. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, built in the Gothic style, keeps within its walls paintings, frescoes, portals and stained glass windows depicting biblical episodes and events. By analogy with other Gothic buildings, you will not find wall paintings here. They are replaced by a large number of tall stained-glass windows, which act as the only source of color and light inside the building. Until now, visitors to Notre Dame de Paris, whose photo adorns almost any tourist guide to France, note that passing through a colored glass mosaic gives the building a mystery and inspires sacred awe.
Some people know this attraction by hearsay, someone remembers it from the novel of the unforgettable Hugo, and for someone it is associated with a popular musical. One way or another, the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is an amazing place with a rich history. If you are planning then do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting this attraction.
The history of the founding of the cathedral
The construction of this building began in 1163. The interior decoration was completed only a century and a half later - in 1315. In 1182 the main altar of this church building was consecrated. The building work itself was completed by 1196. Only the interior decoration lasted for a very long time. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris was erected on the Ile de la Cité, considered the heart of the French capital. The main architects of this monumental building, whose height is 35 meters (the bell tower of the cathedral rises to 70 meters), were Pierre de Montreuil, Jean de Chelle.
The long time of construction also affected the external appearance of the building, as Norman and Gothic styles were mixed over a century and a half, thanks to which the image of the cathedral turned out to be truly unique. One of the most noticeable details of this structure is a six-ton bell located in the right tower. For centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has served as the site of royal weddings, coronations and funerals.
XVII-XVIII centuries
This majestic building underwent great trials in the last decades of the seventeenth century. During this period, marked by the reign of King Louis XIV, the most beautiful stained-glass windows were destroyed in the Cathedral and the graves were destroyed. During the French Revolution, Parisians were warned that this magnificent structure would be razed to the ground. However, they have the opportunity to prevent this if they regularly pay a certain amount of money for the needs of the revolutionaries. Rarely did a Parisian refuse to comply with this ultimatum. Thanks to this, the cathedral was literally saved by the local population.
Cathedral in the 19th century
During the reign of Napoleon in 1802, Notre Dame Cathedral was re-consecrated. And four decades later, its restoration began. During it, the building itself was restored, broken statues and sculptures were replaced, and a spire was built. Restoration work lasted a little less than 25 years. After their completion, it was decided to demolish all the buildings adjacent to the Cathedral, thanks to which a magnificent square was formed.
What is worth paying attention to when visiting Notre Dame Cathedral today?
In addition to its majestic appearance, the cathedral can offer visitors a lot of interesting things hidden within its walls. So, it is here that one of those nails with which Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross has been kept since ancient times. There is also the famous bas-relief of the alchemist Notre Dame.
If you come to the cathedral on Sunday, you can hear the organ music. And the organ located here is the largest in all of France. All believers are given the opportunity to bow before such shrines of the cathedral, as well as a piece of the Cross of the Lord with a nail preserved in it.
Do not deny yourself the opportunity to admire the surroundings from the observation deck located on the south tower of the cathedral. However, keep in mind that to climb it you will have to climb 402 steps. In addition, do not lose sight of the bronze star located on the square in front of the cathedral. She marks the zero kilometer, and it is from her that all French roads have been counted since the 17th century.
Make a wish
It is safe to say that visiting Notre Dame is a very significant event for any person. Perhaps that is why from time immemorial there has been a belief here that if you leave a note with your desire at the gates of the cathedral, it will certainly come true.
How to get to the cathedral
As we have already mentioned, Notre Dame is located in the eastern part of Paris. You can get here both by metro and by bus. If you decide to take the subway, then you need to take line 4 and get off at the Cite or Saint-Michel station. If you plan to travel by bus, then use one of the following routes: 21, 38, 47 or 85.
Cathedral opening hours
The main hall of Notre Dame is open every day from 6:45 to 19:45. However, keep in mind that from time to time the flow of visitors is "slowed down" by local ministers. This is done in order not to interfere with ongoing masses.
If you plan to visit the towers of the cathedral, then take note of the following information:
In July and August, they are open to the public on weekdays from 9:00 to 19:30, and on weekends from 9:00 to 23:00;
From April to June, as well as in September, the towers can be visited from 9:30 to 19:30 every day;
Between October and March, they are only available for visiting from 10:00 to 17:30.
Seasoned tourists recommend visiting the cathedral from October to March. During this period, it is not so crowded, and you can enjoy the relative silence and in a relaxed atmosphere to explore this attraction. In addition, if you have the opportunity, come here at sunset. At this time, you can enjoy the magnificent picture, which is the play of light passing inside the cathedral through the multi-colored fancy stained-glass windows.
Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral: the cost of visiting
Entrance to the main hall of the cathedral is free. Please note that all year round every Wednesday at 2:00 pm and every Saturday at 2:30 pm there is a guided tour in Russian. It's also free.
Near the cathedral there is a small building where the temple treasury is located. Here are stored various antique products from precious metals, as well as the clothes of the clergy and the main exhibit is the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, as well as a piece of the Cross of the Lord with a preserved nail. Adults will have to pay three euros to enter the treasury, schoolchildren and students two euros each, and children from 6 to 12 years old - 1 euro each.
If you want to climb the tower of the cathedral, then adult visitors will have to pay 8.5 euros, students - 5.5 euros. For those under the age of eighteen, admission is free.
