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Cathédrale Notre-Dame

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Scubabartek
Scubabartek
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Editor Pick

Notre Dame Cathedral

  • December 26, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by D.Barcia from Miami, Florida
Notre Dame Cathedral

This is by far the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever experienced. Construction for the cathedral began in 1160 and ended in 1345; quite a long time. If you visit it, you will see why. The Cathedral of Notre Dame stands at 69 meters (226 feet) tall and has 422 steps to the top of the Bell Tower. The Notre Dame Cathedral was the tallest structure in the world from 1876 to 1880; it remains the tallest church in France. It is the 6th tallest church in the world (Tallest: Ulm Münster in Ulm, Germany standing at 161 meters or 530 feet.). In my opinion, this cathedral is so famous not only because of its size but also because of the detail in which it was built. To see what I am talking about, view the pictures included in this journal.


This cathedral is a perfect example of what Gothic architecture was all about. The Notre Dame Cathedral is just as breathtaking on the inside as it is on the outside. My two favorite things about the inside of the cathedral are the high ceilings and the rose windows. There are two rose windows inside the cathedral; they were built between the years 1250 and 1260. There is a 13 ton bell in the south tower that you can visit; it is rung regularly. The Notre Dame Cathedral opens every day of the week at 7:45am and closes at 6:45pm. There is no admission fee to go inside the cathedral; which is a big plus. There is photography allowed inside the cathedral, although it is very dark inside; the stained windows allow some light to enter. Although, photography is allowed inside the cathedral; the guards do not like tourists to use flash as I learned the hard way. The only real restriction there is on photography is that you cannot take photos if there is a mass taking place. If you want, you can attend mass inside the cathedral; the schedule varies. You can obtain this schedule by visiting their homepage at www.cathedraledeparis.com. I have a secret photo spot that I am going to share with you if you want to get the best quality pictures of the cathedral. The best spot to shoot photos of the Notre Dame Cathedral is on the bridge of Archevéché.


Although there is no initial fee at the entrance of the cathedral, there is a fee and a separate line if you want a tour of the upper towers. In conclusion, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a magnificent experience; just follow these simple guidelines listed above and you will have a great time.

From journal Visiting Paris: The Guide

Editor Pick

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

  • September 30, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Joy S from Manchester, United Kingdom
Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame is on the Ile de la Cite, the historical heart of Paris with must-see sights and lovely views of the Seine. Like everywhere else in the city, it is packed with visitors and the traffic is heavy. The architecture though is fabulous.

We got to Notre-Dame at about 10:30am. There was a queue to get inside but it was fast-moving. The atmosphere inside was disappointing—noisy, packed, cameras flashing, and camcorders whirring—not in the least sacred or spiritual. 10 million people enter its doors every year, so I suppose it must be like this most of the time.

Victor Hugo called it "a symphony of stone". It is located in the geographic and historical heart of Paris. It was one of the first cathedrals to be built in the Gothic style, was begun in 1163 and completed in 1345. It can accommodate over 6,000 worshippers.

It is famous for its sculptures, grotesque gargoyles, and stained glass. The North and South rose windows are spectacular—huge—and date back to the 13th century. Unfortunately, we did not experience the sun shining through them, this is supposed to be especially magnificent.

The choirscreen is wonderful—created in the 14th century with depictions of gospel scenes.

The cathedral's state of disrepair inspired Victor Hugo to write The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1831, which helped to stimulate its restoration. The South Tower, which houses the great bell, was home to the legendary Quasimodo.

There was a huge queue to go up the 387 steps to the tower—it stretched right around the block, so we gave this a miss. You must get a great close-up of the gargoyles up there. There are also apparently kestrels which nest and breed in the towers. Maybe next time!

All road distances are calculated from the zero point located on the square in front of Notre-Dame.

After our visit, we wandered towards the Ile St Louis. It felt so peaceful and leafy there, in contrast to the busy Ile de la Cite. You also get fantastic views of the cathedral from its western tip.

The Ile St Louis has lots of 16th-18th century mansions and has been largely residential since the 17th century. It is very exclusive, residents have included the poet Baudelaire.

We loved wandering along the main road - the narrow St Louis en Ile. The little shops are delightful - full of lovely, quirky and interesting gifts and souvenirs. Our son was fascinated - normally he hates shops, but wanted to go into all of them.

There are also lots of nice bakers and some wonderful ice-cream shops. We got our ice-creams from the famous Maison Berthillon—I recommend the vanilla—it is to die for! I have never had vanilla ice-cream like it.

From journal 4 Nights in Paris

Notre Dame de Paris

  • August 12, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Sabina315 from Athens, Ohio
Notre Dame de Paris

Paris started here on the Ile de la Cite and this area is one of my favorite places to visit in the city. One reason for that is because of Notre Dame. The area in front of the church is beautiful and perfect for relaxing, as is the small park behind the church. Inside, you can chose to go up in one of the towers. There is an audio tour which is informative. And of course another way to enjoy the cathedral is just to stroll around the interior, admiring the stained glass windows. Of course the rest of the cathedral is impressive, as well as the facades on the outside (including the famous gargoyles), but the windows are definitely my favorite part. Though Notre Dame is famous, it is not usually too crowded and people generally keep quiet inside so the atmosphere is serene and besides tour groups there are often people praying or lighting candles. Mass can be heard most Sundays. Entrance is free (except to go up in the towers) and Notre Dame is easily accessed by metro or boat.

From journal Paris in Spring...and Summer

Vesper Service at Notre Dame

  • March 26, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by pabrams52 from Los Angeles, California
Vesper Service at Notre Dame

A friend local friend of ours asked me if I'd be interested in attending the Vesper Service at Notre Dame. I jumped at the opportunity and said, "YES"! It performs on Sundays in the late afternoon at 5:45pm and runs about a half hour. It is free to the public, and is one of the "best deals in town". It gave me a chance to experience the beautiful music played on their magnificent organ. Smelling the incense, hearing the choir, and listening to that glorious music in that setting is a treat not to be missed. As someone who is not Catholic, I relished this rare opportunity. I would recommend it to others as well.

From journal Back to Paris

Cathedral of Notre Dame

  • March 11, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by alex_nyc from New York, New York
Cathedral of Notre Dame

The sculptures on the exterior are amazing in the detail, as they have stained glass in the interior. I have never before seen anything it—this is a must-see if you are in Paris.

From journal An American in Paris

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