NOTRE-DAME

Description

Essentials about Notre-Dame in brief

Paris has a whole range of world-famous and very well-visited sights to offer. However, the visitor record is held by the world-famous cathedral of the city: Notre-Dame. It is visited by about 14 million people every year. Dedicated to the Mother of God, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral (“Our Lady of Paris”) is the seat of the Archdiocese of Paris. Its characteristic silhouette is visible from afar due to its prominent location on the eastern tip of the Île de la Cité.

The history and architecture of Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in the mid-12th century at the time of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic and lasted almost 200 years. The cathedral is characterized by the fact that the choir in the east, which was built first, is still largely in the Romanesque style, but as construction progressed to the west, the stylistic devices of the Gothic period were increasingly used.

The construction of the cathedral can be divided into four phases. In the first phase, from 1163 to 1182, the choir and its galleries were completed. In the second phase, by 1190, the middle third of the nave was set. During the third building phase, from 1190 to 1225, the lower floors of the west facade and the front third of the nave were built. During the fourth construction phase from 1225 to 1250, the tower floors were built.

After the completion of the south tower in 1240, it was decided in the same year not to put spires on the towers. With the completion of the north tower in 1250, the cathedral was effectively finished. In the 13th and 14th centuries, several more extensive additions and alterations were made to the cathedral. During the French Revolution, revolutionaries stormed the cathedral and destroyed its interior. Fortunately, unlike many French monasteries, the church was not demolished.

The nave of Notre-Dame

Today, Notre-Dame is definitely one of the most beautiful churches in the world, both from the outside and the inside. The nave of the cathedral, 130 meters long, 48 meters wide and 35 meters high, can seat up to 10,000 people. Wonderful is the light in Notre-Dame, which shines through the colorful stained glass windows in purple, golden and reddish hues and gives the interior an almost mystical character. Very impressive are the three large window rosettes, up to 12 meters in diameter.

Those who would like to learn more about Notre-Dame can visit a small exhibition with pictures about the history and the construction phases of the cathedral in the rear part of the church and furthermore visit the Trésor de Notre-Dame (“Treasure of Notre-Dame”) on the right behind the transept, where various religious objects from the past centuries are exhibited.

The view from Notre-Dame

Sporty visitors should not miss the climb up the 69 meter high towers of Notre-Dame. The climb with its 422 steps is a tough one, but once at the top you are rewarded with a fabulous view over Paris. In addition, on the way up, you can admire the large bells of the cathedral and have a close look at the famous gargoyles of the church at the top.

Latest news about Notre-Dame

In a devastating major fire in April 2019, large parts of the roof truss were destroyed by flames. The extent to which the interior of the Paris cathedral was also affected by the fire is currently still the subject of investigations. Due to the severe destruction of the roof, a visit to Notre Dame is not possible until further notice. It is not yet clear how long the closure of the cathedral will last.