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 French writer 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 resignedly paid a bribe to Robespierre, who otherwise threatened to destroy the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. We invite 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) is the architectural inspiration of an entire nation
This structure was erected at a time when most of the inhabitants of the country were uneducated people who transmitted historyreligions are exclusively 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 the daylight passing through the colored glass mosaic gives the structure a mystery and inspires sacred awe.
Some people know this attraction by hearsay, someone remembers it from the unforgettable Hugo's novel, 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 a trip to Paris, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting this attraction.
History of the Foundation 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 heightis 35 meters (the bell tower of the cathedral rises 70 meters), steel Pierre de Montreuil, Jean de Chelle.
The long time of construction also affected the 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 marriages, 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. Restorationwork 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 should you pay 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. The famous bas-relief of the alchemist Notre Dame is also located here.
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. On Good Friday, all believers are given the opportunity to bow before such relics of the cathedral as the crown of thorns and 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 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's safe to say that a visit to Notre Dame is a very significant event for any person. Perhaps that is why from time immemori althere is a belief here that if you leave a note with your desire at the gate 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 the Parisian island of Cité. 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, please take note of the following information:
- in July and August they are open for visits 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 available for visiting 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 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 that the game represents.of light passing inside the cathedral through the multi-colored fancy glass windows.
Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral: 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 items made of precious metals, as well as the clothes of clergy and church utensils. 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. 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 tower of the cathedral, then adult visitors will have to pay 8.5 euros, students - 5.5 euros. For persons under the age of eighteen, admission is free.
