Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral) is one of the most popular attractions in the French capital. He is known primarily for the work of the same name by Victor Hugo. This man was a true patriot of his native country and with his work he tried to rekindle the love for the cathedral among his compatriots. I must say, he succeeded quite well. After all, there was no longer any doubt about the French love for this building: during the French Revolution, the townspeople resignedly paid bribes to Robespierre, who otherwise threatened to destroy the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. We invite you to learn more about this Parisian landmark, 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 structure was erected at a time when the majority of the country's inhabitants were uneducated people who passed on the history of religion exclusively by word of mouth. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, built in the Gothic style, houses paintings, frescoes, portals and stained glass windows depicting biblical episodes and events within its walls. 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, acting as the only source of color and light inside the building. Until now, visitors to Notre-Dame de Paris, whose photo adorns almost every tourist guide to France, note that passing through the colored glass mosaic gives the building mystery and inspires sacred awe.
Some people know this attraction by hearsay, others remember it from the novel by the unforgettable Hugo, and for others it is associated with a popular musical. One way or another, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is an amazing place with a rich history. If you are planning, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting this attraction.
History of the foundation of the cathedral
Construction of this structure 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 construction work itself was completed by 1196. Only the interior finishing took a very long time. The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral was erected on the Ile de la Cité, considered the heart of the French capital. The main architects of this monumental structure, whose height is 35 meters (the bell tower of the cathedral rises 70 meters), were Pierre de Montreuil and Jean de Chelles.
The long construction period also affected the appearance of the building, since over the course of a century and a half, Norman and Gothic styles were mixed, making the image of the cathedral truly unique. One of the most noticeable parts of this structure is the six-ton bell located in the right tower. For many centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris served as the site of royal weddings, coronations and funerals.
XVII-XVIII centuries
This majestic structure 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 in the Cathedral were destroyed and 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 rededicated. 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 just under 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 should you pay attention to today when visiting Notre Dame Cathedral?
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 the help of which Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross has been kept since ancient times. The famous bas-relief of the alchemist of Notre Dame is also located here.
If you come to the cathedral on Sunday, you can hear organ music. And the organ located here is the largest in all of France. In all, believers are given the opportunity to bow before such shrines of the cathedral, like a piece of the Holy Cross 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 miss the bronze star located in the square in front of the cathedral. It marks the zero kilometer, and it is from it 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. This is probably why, from time immemorial, there has been a belief here that if you leave a note with your wish 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, you need to take line 4 and get off at 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 so as not to interfere with ongoing masses.
If you plan to visit the cathedral towers, please note 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;
From October to March they are only open to the public from 10:00 to 17:30.
Experienced tourists recommend coming to the cathedral from October to March. During this period, it is not so crowded, and you can enjoy the relative silence and explore this attraction in a relaxed atmosphere. Also, if you get the chance, come here at sunset. At this time, you will be able to enjoy the magnificent picture represented by the play of light passing inside the cathedral through multi-colored fancy stained glass windows.
Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral: cost of admission
Entrance to the main hall of the cathedral is free. Please note that all year round there is a tour in Russian every Wednesday at 2 pm, as well as every Saturday at 2:30 pm. It's also free.
Near the cathedral there is a small building where the temple treasury is located. Various antique items made of precious metals are stored here, as well as the clothes of clergy. The main exhibit is the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, as well as a piece of the Holy Cross with a preserved nail. To enter the treasury, adults will have to pay three euros, schoolchildren and students two euros, and children from 6 to 12 years old - 1 euro.
If you want to climb the cathedral tower, then adult visitors will have to pay 8.5 euros, students - 5.5 euros. For persons under eighteen years of age, admission is free.
Without any doubt, Notre Dame de Paris, better known to us as Notre Dame Cathedral, is the most recognizable Christian temple in the world, and recognized (along with the Eiffel Tower) as a symbol not only of Paris, but of all of France. Among other things, it is also the oldest Christian religious building in the city.
As was previously customary, Notre Dame de Paris or Notre Dame Cathedral was erected on the site of an ancient Roman pagan temple, where sacrifices were once made to the god Jupiter. Thus, the cathedral was supposed to symbolize the victory of true Christianity over the pagan errors of ancient civilizations.
The very location of the temple is also deeply symbolic - it was built on the island of Cite, which is located in the very heart of Paris. And on the square in front of Notre-Dame de Paris there is a bronze plate with the sign “0 km”, which means that this is where all the roads in the world originate. It should be said that among all the Gothic cathedrals in France, of which there are not so few in the country, Notre Dame Cathedral occupies an exceptional place.
If we take into account that the construction of the temple lasted no less, but almost two hundred years, then one can only wonder how a variety of architects managed to so accurately convey in its appearance all the canons inherent in Gothic in its most concentrated form.
History of the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris
It is believed that the construction of the temple began in 1163 during the time of Louis VII of France, on the initiative and with the blessing of the Parisian bishop Maurice de Sully. Although historians find it difficult to determine who exactly laid the very first stone in the foundation of the future shrine - Maurice de Sully himself or Pope Alexander III. In any case, it is reliably known that the altar of the temple was consecrated in the spring of 1182, and three years after the ritual, the Patriarch of Jerusalem himself held a solemn service in it.
It is clear that over such a long time, the construction of the temple was supervised by various architects. History has brought to us the names of only those who took part in the final phase of its construction. These are Jean and Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravi and Pierre de Montreuil. It is noteworthy that funds for the construction of the main Christian shrine of Paris were collected by the whole world. Money was donated not only by the king of the Franks, aristocrats and artisans, but even by Parisian prostitutes, of whom there were plenty here at all times. True, representatives of the most ancient craft first asked permission from the spiritual authorities to make this sacrifice. They were allowed to donate the money they earned in this way, but not openly.
The front part of the temple, with two rectangular towers, which are by far the most recognizable distinctive features of Notre-Dame Cathedral, began to be built only in 1200, that is, almost 40 years after its foundation. The construction of the temple was finally completed in the middle of the 13th century, and the decoration of its interior was completed only in 1345.
During the revolutionary upheavals that raged in France at the end of the 18th century, Notre-Dame de Paris was brutally looted and desecrated. Some of its facade statues were broken, and the internal utensils and bells were melted down for the needs of the revolution. For many years after this, the temple stood forgotten and gradually crumbling. And only after the writer Victor Hugo published his famous novel in 1831, the authorities began to take measures to restore the dilapidated shrine.
During the restoration work that took place between 1841 and 1864, Notre Dame Cathedral received updated statues and stained glass windows on its façade. In addition, at the foot of the bell towers, original images of mythical creatures appeared - gargoyles and chimeras, which delight visitors today. At the same time, the architects also restored the main spire of the cathedral, dismantled by the revolutionaries, which reaches a height of 96 meters.
Architectural features of Notre-Dame de Paris
In an architectural sense, Notre Dame Cathedral can be defined as a basilica with five naves. The total length of the cathedral is about 130 meters, with a height of vaults of 35 meters. The famous towers of Notre-Dame de Paris, which are also its bell towers, rose 69 meters into the sky. About 9 thousand people can gather under the arches of the cathedral at the same time.
It is noteworthy that the main facade of Notre Dame Cathedral can be visually divided into three separate parts, both in the horizontal and vertical planes. The first horizontal level contains three richly ornamented portals, which are the entrances to the temple. The central and largest portal is called the Last Judgment, to the left of it there is a portal dedicated to St. Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and to the right - to the Virgin Mary herself. Moreover, the left portal is somewhat different from the other two in its upper triangular part. But this is not the only violation of the general symmetry that a person looking from below can notice. If you look closely at the bell towers of Notre-Dame de Paris, located on the third horizontal level of the temple, the left one will be slightly thicker than its right sister.
It is not entirely clear what exact meaning the architects intended in these small deviations from the general symmetry, but the fact that these distortions added interest and mystery to the temple is undoubted.
On the middle horizontal level of the façade you can see the no less famous and recognizable central stained glass rose of Notre Dame Cathedral, which partly contains medieval elements, and partly restored much later. The diameter of the stained glass window is about 10 meters, and on the sides of it you can see small arches with additional windows built into them. It is under the rose and the side windows that the famous gallery of royal sculptures is located, containing 28 statues of Jewish rulers who were the ancestors of the Savior.
Previously, there were sculptures of various French kings at this place, but during the Great French Revolution, all of them, by order of the Convention, were thrown to the ground and additionally beheaded. Some of them, however, were recently found during excavations in Paris. The current sculptures were created and installed on the facade of the temple only in the middle of the 19th century.
Temple interior
As was previously customary in Gothic church architecture, the interior space of the cathedral is delineated by its longitudinal and transverse naves, the so-called transepts, which, intersecting each other, form a Christian cross.
In the center of the longest nave there are sculptural compositions that describe various scenes from the gospel life.
The central chandelier (chandelier) of the Notre-Dame de Paris temple was restored according to old drawings by Viollet-le-Duc, and replaced the original, melted down in the crucible of the revolutionary events of 1792. The interior of the temple, its vaults and columns are made of gray stone, the cold color of which produces a somewhat gloomy impression on visitors.
It should be said that previously the inside of Notre Dame Cathedral, especially in its central nave, was even gloomier and darker. However, after restorers made additional windows in its side walls, the lighting became much better.
In fact, the height of the central nave of the temple reaches 35 meters. But its architectural features and the comparative narrowness of the pointed vaults give the temple even greater height, airiness and, as a result, extraordinary grandeur. In accordance with the existing Gothic canons, the Church of Notre-Dame de Paris is absolutely devoid of any wall painting. Therefore, the only source of various color spots lying on the monotonously gray walls is sunlight breaking through the numerous stained glass windows. It is these multi-colored sunbeams that somewhat enliven the rather ascetic internal picture that reigns inside Notre Dame Cathedral.
Although most of the stained glass windows existing in the temple were restored in the middle of the 19th century, they are windows made in accordance with the medieval canons of religious Christian buildings. So, say, the stained glass windows of the choirs depict scenes from the earthly journey of our Savior, but the stained glass windows of the side scenes are already dedicated to individual moments from the life of famous Christian saints.
The windows illuminating the central nave of the temple are decorated with images of biblical characters, Old Testament prophets and apostles. The side chapels are replete with stained glass windows illuminating the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the most famous stained glass window of Notre-Dame de Paris, located on its facade, is a rose containing more than eight dozen famous scenes from Old Testament history.
Crown of thorns of the Savior - temple relic of Notre Dame de Paris
Inside the temple, one of the most revered shrines of the Christian world is preserved - which was placed on the head of Christ the Savior before his crucifixion on Golgotha. An interesting story tells how this relic came to the main Parisian temple.
For a long time, the Crown of Thorns, after the tragic and majestic events of Jerusalem, was kept on Mount Zion, and then, in 1063, it was delivered to the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople. However, in 1204, Constantinople, whose ancient cobbled streets had not been set foot by any enemy for a thousand years, fell to the blows of an army of Christian crusaders. The crusaders, who subjected the Byzantine capital to merciless plunder, also captured a precious trophy - the Savior's Crown of Thorns.
Over time, one of the impoverished Latin emperors named Baldwin II, who had this shrine at his disposal, mortgaged it to Byzantine merchants, and then invited his cousin Louis IX to buy it from them.
In such a happy way, in 1239, the Crown of Thorns of Christ came to Paris, where a special chapel was built for its storage on the personal orders of the king.
During the Great French Revolution, the Parisian mob, intoxicated with freedom, left no stone unturned from this chapel, but the Christian shrine was hidden in advance, and returned to its place only in 1809. Since then, the Crown of Thorns of Christ has always been in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and attracts zealous Christians from all over the world.
It should be said that this shrine is periodically brought to the center of the temple for worship by parishioners every first Friday of the new month.
In short, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral should definitely be included in the list of attractions that should be visited in any case. After all, it is here that the spiritual and historical core of one of the most freedom-loving and mysterious peoples of the world is concentrated.
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 with 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. It stands in a majestic bulk 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 just under 2 centuries, from 1163 to 1345, although its main altar was consecrated already in 1182.
The portals of the cathedral are richly decorated with sculptures on biblical subjects.
The Last Judgment is depicted at the central entrance to Notre-Dame de Paris.
From the side the cathedral looks quite stern. On the top sit gargoyles that have turned green with time, and the stained glass windows of the cathedral from the outside look like dirty windows, and even behind bars.
Stained glass windows located high up are no longer so protected and look delicate. By the way, from the inside of the cathedral they look simply magnificent! But more on that below.
Behind Notre Dame Cathedral there is a small park.
In the center of the park is a statue of Our Lady.
This park is worth visiting if only to see the back of the cathedral.
It is significantly different from the front facade that most tourists look at.
For example, this spire is not visible from the square in front of the cathedral.
Let's go 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. They say that the cathedral was built in such a way that it could accommodate all 10,000 inhabitants of medieval Paris.
The cathedral is active. We came to the end of the service. By the way, tourists are not prohibited from filming in the Cathedral. They just ask you to do it without 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 requires a fee.
Various relics, valuables, fragments of relics and especially expensive church items are collected here.
An interesting Catholic tradition is to install a Nativity scene in churches.
In the center, as it should be, is a stable with the baby Jesus and the wise men with gifts.
A separate part of Notre Dame Cathedral is intended more for tourists. For example, there is a model of a cathedral.
Anyone can light a candle here. The candles are right in the boxes with the cost of the candle written on them. You take it, put the coin in the box, and put a candle on it.
There is also an Orthodox icon in Notre-Dame de Paris, donated to the cathedral by the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Alexy II.
You can climb the towers of the cathedral and the famous gallery of chimeras. To do this, you really have to stand in line under the walls, looking at the hanging gargoyles.
The queue moves slowly, since the staircase to the towers of the cathedral is very narrow and in one of the places it is necessary to go up and down the same staircase on which two people cannot pass each other.
But if time and health permit, 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 Seine River embankment, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The hill of Montmartre with the Sacré-Coeur basilica is lost in the fog.
The cathedral has many statues of fantastic animals - chimeras.
Some of them look at the city as if they are terribly worried about what is happening in Paris.
Others look at the angel, waiting for him to start trumpeting.
Chimeras were installed on the cathedral in the mid-19th century, during the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris.
At the foot of the spire are bronze figures of the apostles, greened with time.
And below, as far as visibility is clear, is Paris...
2015, Mochalov Artyom
Each European capital has its own architectural symbol. Paris is much luckier in this regard; it has several such symbols: the Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides... But the oldest, most pompous and impressive in its luxury is the Notre Dame Cathedral, on the Ile de la Cité, in the very heart of the capital of France. Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral primarily attracts tourists. In addition to the external beauty and harmony of the building itself, many historical and cultural events are associated with the cathedral.
At the very beginning of its existence, the Gothic building served for coronations, weddings, and funerals of the emperors of France. In 1302, the first parliament of France, the French Estates General, met in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. By the beginning of the year 2000 (millennium), the cathedral was cleaned of soot and city dust. It is now golden yellow, the original color of the sandstone from which the cathedral was built.
Notre Dame Cathedral was erected directly in the center of the Ile de la Cité, the place from which the development of the capital of France began. Before this, as evidenced by excavations, there was a Gallo-Roman settlement on this site, and where the cathedral now stands, there was a temple dedicated to Jupiter, and later, on its foundation, basilicas from the Merovingian and Carolingian times.
Construction of the medieval Catholic cathedral began in the 12th century and took place in several stages until the 14th century. Jean de Chelles and later Pierre de Montreuil were the main architects who supervised the construction work. All the townspeople collected money for the construction, since everyone wanted to be involved in the construction of God's temple. 
As was customary in the Middle Ages, those who contributed the most money had the right to bury themselves or members of their family inside the chapels, as well as display their own statues in memory of descendants. Bishop Maurice de Sully and Pope Alexander III patronized the construction. Due to the fact that the construction of the cathedral lasted for a long time (from 1163 to 1315), its appearance combined the features of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles with a predominance of the latter. It is believed that the Romanesque style in architecture means a greater commitment to classical forms, to the architecture of Ancient Rome, while the Gothic style implies certain features of barbarism.
Mysticism of medieval France
Medieval builders, masons, who knew how to build such majestic cathedrals, were a privileged guild. They moved around the French capital at the request of the townspeople and the city commune that conceived the construction. Masons, stonemasons, carpenters, and architects kept the specifics of their craft secret, often encrypting knowledge in the depicted symbols they left in buildings. Now it has become fashionable to look for hidden meanings and decipher the symbols of freemasons and masons.
And the symbols were actually used. These were special ciphers of free masons, embodying esoteric knowledge, as well as Christian symbolism. The secret knowledge of alchemists, Cistercians, obtained on the basis of astrology, alchemy, mystical geometry, was first perceived and then carefully preserved in Masonic lodges.
Cathedrals dedicated to the Virgin
Thus, Notre Dame is dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Madonna), the patroness and intercessor of the city. But this is not the only meaning of this majestic structure. By the way, Paris is not the only city that has Notre Dame Cathedral. At approximately the same time 
Notre Dame cathedrals appeared in Reims, Chartres, Dijon, Rouen, Paris and some other cities of France. Their heyday is associated with the dissemination and popularization in those days of the teachings of Bernard of Clairvon (1090 - 1153), who introduced the cult of the Virgin Mary, associated with Christmas and the esoteric meaning of the feminine principle. Until that time, the cult of the Virgin Mary was not popular among churchmen.
Over the course of history, due to various circumstances and time, the cathedral gradually collapsed. It suffered especially during the time of Louis 14, when many tombstones and stained glass windows were destroyed, as well as during the Great French Revolution.
During the period of the Great French Revolution, which proclaimed the freedoms of man and citizen, Notre Dame Cathedral was called the Temple of Reason. During Napoleon's time the cathedral was restored to its religious status. Napoleon himself was crowned at Notre-Dame de Paris along with his wife Josephine. A grandiose canvas depicting the scene of Napoleon's coronation at Notre Dame is exhibited in the Louvre, another famous symbol of Paris.
Notre-Dame de Paris - abode of God... and love
In 1831, Victor Hugo wrote the masterpiece novel Notre-Dame de Paris, thanks to which the magnificent cathedral was restored to its former popularity. The authorities decided to restore the architectural masterpiece and began its restoration in 1841. He supervised the restoration work of Violet de Duc. He also ordered to demolish the old buildings and clear the area in front of the cathedral.
Those who have read the novel by V. Hugo, watched one of its film adaptations or enjoyed the sensational musical of the same name around the world, remember the descriptions of the interior and exterior of the cathedral, remember the scenes about how the cathedral bell ringer, the hunchback Quasimodo, communicated with the bells, calling them Marie, Big Marie, etc. In fact, even now all the bells in the Notre Dame bell tower have their own names, for example, Angelique-Françoise, weighing about 1765 kg, Antoinette-Charlotte, weighing 1158 kg, Hyacinthe-Jeanne, weighing 813 kg etc. The largest bell, Emmanuel, has a mass of 13 tons.
In general, the size of the cathedral is amazing. So, its height is 35 meters, and the height of the bell towers is 69 meters. The length of the temple is 130 m, width - 48. To get to the observation deck and stand next to the famous gargoyles and chimeras of Notre Dame, to see Paris from such a height, you need to be in good physical shape and climb 387 steps of a narrow staircase leading to the balcony.
Before the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral was considered the tallest building in Paris.
Construction of Notre Dame Cathedral
Gothic cathedrals were built collectively. Enormous material, human and financial resources were needed. It was necessary to deliver stones from quarries and cut them. To deliver this stone, a significant amount of forest was cut down. Naturally, the further the source of building materials was from the construction site, the more expensive its transportation and delivery became. Those people who could not support the construction financially directly participated in the work as masons, joiners, and carpenters. The head of the work was called the Master. The difference in pay for the work of an architect and a skilled worker was not very noticeable, except for the annual bonus. The working day lasted 12 hours in the warm season and 9 hours in winter. During rest hours, all workers could unite in church services.
Masons or Freemasons
Professional stonemasons hired by city authorities to build cathedrals usually rested and ate with all the other builders, together they took shelter from rain and bad weather, and discussed their work in wooden barracks called loges. Since the 18th century, this term was coined by the Freemasons, whose meetings were secret and closed. The Freemasons sought to create a closed secret society to preserve and transmit secret knowledge intended exclusively for initiates. Masons of the 18th century also used another well-known term for medieval freemasons - soft stone (French pierre franc or franc-macon) freemason, or freemason. True, linguists also have another version of the word franc. Perhaps it is connected with the definition of franchise, that is, special freedom of action, a number of privileges, tax exemption. Such privileges were granted to mobile construction teams, as opposed to those hired locally.
Gargoyles - stone guards of the cathedral
Let's say a few words about gargoyles (gargoyles). During the construction of cathedrals, such sculptural images of semi-demonic infernal creatures were used for purely practical purposes. They were drainage systems. Not only gargoyles were used as drainage systems in Gothic cathedrals, but also dragons, chimeras, various animals - lions, donkeys, fish, goats, wolves, etc. Even people (monks, clowns, jesters) and even entire scenes were depicted. The unusual infernal appearance of these decorative elements of Gothic cathedrals forced us to look for another, hidden meaning in their depiction. Perhaps the appearance of such creatures was supposed to scare away evil spirits from God's temple.
However, the gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral originally served a decorative function. The architect Ville-de-Duc decided to install them already in the 19th century and invited 15 sculptors to do this. By the way, Ville-de-Duc, who carefully studied the secrets of building Gothic cathedrals, published an “Explanatory Dictionary of French Architecture of the 11th – 16th Centuries.”
On the porch of Notre Dame Cathedral
So, having found themselves in the square in front of the cathedral, having examined it from the outside, tourists line up to go inside. The entrance to the cathedral is through an arched portal on the main facade. The arches of the cathedral support seven statues. Above the central portal are scenes of the Last Judgment. On the left is the portal of the Virgin Mary, and on the right is the portal of St. Anne. Near them is Christ Studio. Between the portals and the tier is the Gallery of Kings, which is the name given to the sculptural images of the kings of the Old Testament. The fact is that in the Middle Ages, people were mostly illiterate, and images and sculptures in churches told them about the life of Christ, the deeds of the saints and apostles, and other stories from the Bible. In the center of the façade on the outside is a sculptural image, and on the inside is a stained glass window in the shape of a rose. The central stained glass window in the shape of a rose has a diameter of about 10 m.
In 2009, Michael Jackson fans gathered on the porch of the cathedral thought that the bell was ringing on the occasion of the death of their idol. In fact, the ringing of bells accompanied the procession to the Cathedral of Saint-Severin.
Rose
The rose, the so-called round detail with ray motifs, usually made of marble, is located in the center of the façade of cathedrals and the same detail is also found on the south transept of Notre Dame above the strengthening structures. The rose, as an element of style, was used mainly in the Romanesque cathedral, but in the Gothic it combined both functional and symbolic meanings. First of all, it was the source of light entering the central nave. The rose also symbolizes the circle and the Sun, the fiery wheel, which in medieval times was identified with the cyclical time of life. The rose is also associated with the feminine principle. Therefore, its use in the cathedral dedicated to the Virgin is quite justified. The number of rose petals also has a symbolic meaning. When you stand in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, pay attention to the number of rose petals.
Stained glass windows in Gothic cathedrals served as a source of light and depicted various scenes and subjects. In addition to a purely functional meaning, the use of light in cathedrals also had a symbolic meaning - God is light. In cathedrals in the Gothic architectural style, God - Light penetrates the temple to the believers through beautiful refraction. In the Gothic cathedral, the symbolic meaning of verticality also emphasized the desire to rise to the sky; the light penetrating through the stained glass windows seemed to break the earthly darkness, giving the opportunity to rush upward, to unearthly space. Today, in the chapels of the cathedral and in the treasury, electric lights are also used.
In Notre-Dame de Paris, stained glass windows depict scenes of rural work, signs of the Zodiac, and allegories of human virtues and sins. Only a small part of the stained glass windows has survived to this day in its ancient form; most of it had to be restored and reconstructed.
Cathedral interior
The interior of Notre Dame Cathedral consists of nave chapels. Some of them contain paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. In some there are small models of scenes of medieval life with the cathedral in the center. In the center of the Cathedral there are chairs on which you can sit, relax, and if you are lucky enough to be here while the organ is working, then listen to the liturgy performed by the organ. The fact is that, although Notre Dame Cathedral is a cultural and historical landmark, it is, first of all, a functioning Catholic church. Church services are held here, so entry to the cathedral is absolutely free.
Organ of Notre Dame Cathedral
The organ of Notre Dame Cathedral operated in the 15th century and was later rebuilt. Now the organ has 8,000 pipes and 111 registers. For the recent celebration of the cathedral's 850th anniversary, the organ was again reconstructed and new bells were added.
There is a treasury in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It houses one of the main Christian artifacts, the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ. It was moved here from the Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) church, which was specially built for it at one time. Other secular treasures and ancient religious objects are also on display. Entry to the treasury costs 1-3 Euro.
Notre Dame Cathedral is a fine example of a Gothic building
From Notre Dame Cathedral you can safely study the Gothic architectural style. It combines all its main features and elements. These are stained glass windows made of colored glass, and pointed spiers and ribbed roof vaults, and the defenders of the abode of God - gloomy gargoyles.
The enormous size of Gothic cathedrals, including Notre-Dame de Paris, is explained by the fact that a medieval man had to feel reverence for the Lord. In addition, the function of such councils was to unite people through common communion with God. Cathedrals also served as a refuge in times of civil strife and quarrels. Cathedrals also served as gathering places for townspeople in the Middle Ages and for holding various festivals and mysteries. The Feast of Fools in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, described in V. Hugo's work, had a very real basis. Thus, the chronicles say that in 1160 the “Feast of Fools” took place in the French city of Lana.
Cathedrals in the Middle Ages were original books made of stone and glass. Victor Hugo also writes about this, conveying the complaints of medieval scholastics that the times are coming when the book begins to replace architecture.
There is a belief that if you stand in a circle at the intersection of the earth's meridians on the square in front of the cathedral and make a wish, it will come true.
In the vicinity of Notre Dame Cathedral
Below Notre Dame Cathedral there is a crypt or archaeological museum, which began functioning in 1980. In the 120-meter-long crypt, you can see the foundations and walk through the masonry from the times of Ancient Rome. Entrance to the crypt to the left of the cathedral façade, ticket price 3.50 Euro.
About 100 meters from the cathedral there is a monument to Charlemagne, who united the French lands. They say that this monument does not have any special artistic value, but it very accurately depicts the vestments of the king of that time. As a result of this and because of the symbolism of the figure of Charlemagne, this monument also deserves the attention of tourists.
The prime meridian is displayed on the square in front of the cathedral and the distance to many cities around the world is indicated. These marks are played out in Dan Brown's recently popular bestseller The Da Vinci Code.
There are known images and photographs of Notre Dame Cathedral not only from the facade, but also from the south side across the Seine River. You can admire this view while sailing on a boat along the Seine around the Ile de la Cité. In the evening, thanks to the beautiful lighting, the cathedral looks especially romantic.
Note to tourists
You can get to Notre Dame Cathedral by metro lines 4, 1, 10, 7, 11, 14 to the stops “Isle de la Cité”, “Hotel de Ville”, “Chalete”, and then just a short walk. You can use buses, for example, routes 21, 38, 47, 85.
With 14 million visitors annually, the cathedral is one of the most famous monuments in Europe.
Notre Dame Cathedral is open to the public from 8 am to 6:45 pm, on Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 15 pm. According to the cathedral website, services are held on Saturday at 5:45 and at 18:15.
Tourists have access to an audio guide in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese, the cost of which is 5 Euros.
Within walking distance of Notre Dame there are other interesting sights of the French capital - the city hall, the Hotel de Ville, the Palace of Justice and the Conciergerie prison, as well as many others.
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In addition to admiring the building itself and its architectural solutions, we draw your attention to some significant elements of the monument.
In the eastern part of the temple there is an apse, which is visible from the Tournelle embankment. The symbol of the sunrise of the Resurrection with a gray-green vault and supporting arches is intended to receive divine energy.
On March 6, 2009, the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the very heart of the temple, opened. The crown of thorns of Christ is kept here, enclosed in a crystal ring with a gold frame. In the background stands a statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, holding in her hands the crown and nails that brought her son so much suffering. It is exhibited for viewing on all Fridays of Lent.
Nearby is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It is dedicated to the mother of the Savior. This is a place for sacred sacramental prayers and meditation.
On the central nave there is an altar, behind it you will see the sculptural composition “Pietà” by Nicolas Coustou. The Virgin Mary holds the body of her dead son. On both sides of her there are sculptures of kings: on the right - Louis XIII, offering Mary his scepter and crown, on the left - Louis XIV praying.
An unusual medieval altar can be seen in the middle of the central nave. Biblical scenes are depicted in stone on the altar barrier.
The northern and southern parts of the altar barrier are a presentation of the biblical story of Christ. Even someone who has never picked up the Holy Scriptures will be able to piece together the story of Jesus from the images on the barrier.
The treasury, or trezor, is located in the annex of the cathedral. In addition to the crown of thorns, the Palatine cross-reliquary, it stores jewelry, things made of gold and silver, church household items, priestly robes, ancient manuscripts, etc.
The cathedral contains 27 statues of the Virgin Mary. The most famous is the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms, placed in the south-eastern part of the transept. The statue is called Notre Dame of Paris.
Turn your attention to the southern rose window with a diameter of 13 meters, located on the façade of the transept from the north. The stained glass rose window is considered a true masterpiece of the High Gothic of the 13th century. Untouched by historical events, the north rose window amazes with its medieval mosaics.
Don't forget to see one of the largest musical instruments in the world - the organ.
And, according to one of the legends of the cathedral, ancient alchemists helped create the temple. The secret of the philosopher's stone is hidden in the geometric interweaving of the building. An ancient teaching is encrypted in the frescoes, by unraveling which you can gain immense power over the universe.
To avoid long lines, arrive at the cathedral early in the morning on weekdays.
To visit the towers, arrive 30 minutes early. The queue will be long, and only about 120 people pass per hour. If you arrive in a group, you can split up: some stand in line, others are still exploring the cathedral.
In bad weather and on holidays, entrance to the towers may be closed.
Please note that you will have to climb 422 steps (we warn pregnant women and those complaining about health).
If you want to attend the service, you need to arrive on Saturday at 5:45 or 18:15. Several services are held on Sunday. At 11:30 the international mass with an organ concert begins.
The most inexpensive souvenirs in Paris can be found in shops near Notre Dame.
Budget tourist cafes are located to the right of the cathedral in the Latin Quarter.
Every month in the first days, on all Fridays of Great Lent, the treasures of the temple are brought out for public admiration. To see this beauty, look into the cathedral around three o'clock in the afternoon.
Tourists can rejoice at the opportunity to capture the decoration of the cathedral on camera: photography is allowed on the territory of the temple and inside.
Visiting an architectural masterpiece, a true work of art, should definitely be on your list when planning a trip to Paris.
