{"id":667136,"date":"2022-02-18T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T07:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/?p=667136"},"modified":"2022-01-31T12:48:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T09:48:56","slug":"notre-dame-cathedral-in-paris-history-photo-description-opening-hours-how-to-get-there-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/en\/notre-dame-cathedral-in-paris-history-photo-description-opening-hours-how-to-get-there-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris – history, photo, description, opening hours, how to get there, map"},"content":{"rendered":"

Notre Dame de Paris<\/a> is located<\/a> in the heart of Paris. For many centuries, the Catholic church amazes people with its grace, splendor and monumentality.<\/p>\n

Construction history<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

The construction of the cathedral<\/a> began during the reign of Louis YII in 1163. Bishop Maurice de Sully initiated the construction. Historians believe that the ruined St. Stephen's Basilica and other buildings served as the foundation:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Romanesque Cathedral<\/li>\n
  2. Car<\/a>olingian Cathedral<\/li>\n
  3. paleo christian church<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The work lasted for almost two centuries, which indicates that there were many part<\/a>icipants in the construction, but almost no information about them has been preserved. The names of the architects who started the construction are known – Jean de Chelle and Pierre de Montreuil. The construction of the temple<\/a> proceeded slowly.<\/p>\n

    Despite the fact that parishioners rich and poor, nobles and commoners tried to help the construction by donating feasible sums, there was not enough money. The construction proceeded in stages: the walls were completed by 1177, the altar was built (and consecrated by Cardinal Albano) in 1182. By the end of the 12th century, a lead roof was installed, towers were erected in 1245, and interior decoration was completed in 1315. The end of the construction is conside<\/a>red to be 1345.<\/p>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    Since that time, there have been no major rest<\/a>orations, the building was dilapidated, there were especially many destructions during the revolution. The figures of the Jewish kings were removed and beheaded, the stained-glass windows were broken, and the artistic carving was also damaged. At the very end of the 18th century, the Convention issued a decree according to which believers were obliged to pay money for the needs of the revolution, otherwise the temple would be destroyed. The inhabitants managed to defend their shrine, but Robespierre declared it a stronghold of obscurantism and renamed it the Temple of Reason.<\/p>\n

    An interest<\/a>ing fact: the sculptures of kings were discovered during construction work at the end of the 20th century. As it turned out, the former owner of the house, who lived at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, acquired the statues and buried them with honors. In 1802, the cathedral was returned to the Catholic Church and re-consecrated. In the 19th century, they began to repair the structure, led by the architect Viollet-le-Duc – they restored stained-glass windows, sculptures, erected a new spire, and installed sculptures of chimeras. The Catholic church was the place of weddings of royal persons, burial places<\/a>, meetings of parliament. Here the destitute found lodging for the night and criminals were protected.<\/p>\n

    Appearance<\/h2>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is individual and unique<\/a>. The cathedral was built for about two hundred years, many architects took part in the work, so the building styles are different – Gothic and Romanesque. The temple is a basilica with side double naves, a construction that was hardly used before. The height of the temple is 35 m, the length is 130 m, the width is 48 m. The weight of the bell tower, located on the south<\/a> side, is 13 tons. Vertically, the facade is divided into three parts, horizontally divided by galleries into three rows, the facade is crowned by two towers.<\/p>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    The first tier has three portals, they depict the Mother of God, St. Anna and pictures of the Last Judgment. Above the entrance there is a panel with scenes from the Gospel, statues of saints are installed above the arches. Above stretches the Gallery of Kings with 28 figures of the Jewish kings. The stained-glass windows, almost entirely recreated in the 19th century, add beauty and brightness to the building. The main stained-glass window (rose) remains from the Middle Ages and has been partially restore<\/a>d. It depicts the image of the Mother of God and other paintings, including the virtuous and sinful deeds of people. Two roses on the sides are considered the largest in Europe<\/a>, their diameter is 13 m.<\/p>\n

    The cathedral is crowned with a 96-meter spire covered with lead plates. Nearby are sculptures of the apostles, divided into four groups. An animal was placed near each saint, which is a symbol of the evangelist<\/a>. The statue<\/a>s are set facing Paris, and only Thomas, who is considered the patron saint of builders, looks at the spire.<\/p>\n

    Gargoyles<\/h2>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    The bright decoration of the facade, gargoyles, were installed in the 13th century. These are demonic creatures that look like large dragons. They are well preserved, as they are made of durable limestone quarried in the Seine River basin. Translated from Old French, it means “throat.” In the Gothic, gargoyles were intended to drain rainwater, they installed gutters made of stone or metal to hide their unattractiveness.<\/p>\n

    Chimeras are evil demonic creatures, usually depicted as demons, fabulous birds or animals with wings like bats. Embodies human sins. The architect Viollet-le-Duc decided to install them during a major restoration. He himself made sketches of monsters and sculptors under the direction of Geoffroy Dechaumes embodied them in stone. One of the popular chimeras is Strix, a half-woman, half-bird, who, according to legend, fed on the blood of babies. Interesting<\/a>ly, if a living person is photo<\/a>graphed with them, he see<\/a>ms to be stone statues, and gargoyles and chimeras are full of life.<\/p>\n

    Interior decoration<\/h2>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    The internal space of Gothic architecture is created thanks to the transverse and longitudinal naves, forming the shape of a cross. There are no internal supporting structures in the room, they are replaced by two rows of columns. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with artistic carvings. In one part of the cathedral, sculptures, paintings and other works of art are collected, which are presented by parishioners on May 1, the Catholic holiday dedicated to the Mother of God.<\/p>\n

    Under the high tier there are sculptures of the rulers of the Old Testament. The original figures were destroyed and replaced with copies. The organ is famous – it was equipped in the Middle Ages during the construction of the temple, the largest in Europe<\/a>. It has been reconstructed and rebuilt many times. A spiral staircase leads to the South Tower of the temple, which offers a grandiose panorama of the city<\/a>, from a close distance it is convenient to view the bell, gargoyles and chimeras.<\/p>\n

    The center<\/a> of the long nave is decorated with compositions telling about scenes from the Lives of the Saints. The interior of the temple is made of gray-steel stone. Since, according to the Gothic canons, the walls are not decorated with wall paintings, the somewhat gloomy picture is enlivened by the sunlight that enters through the colored stained-glass windows and lancet windows, giving the temple colors and brightness. The chapels located on the sides tell about the earthly life of the Mother of God. The central stained-glass window contains dozens of scenes from the Old Testament.<\/p>\n

    The novel that glorified the cathedral<\/h2>\n

    \"Notre<\/a><\/p>\n

    \nBy the 19th century, the Cathedral was so dilapidated that it was about to be demolished. The publication in 1831 of the novel by the French writer Victor Hugo “Notre Dame Cathedral” contributed to his salvation. The novelist<\/a> wrote about good and evil, love and hate. The idea did not come about by chance – Hugo was an ardent defender of ancient architecture and his activities are aimed at protecting it. The chapter of the novel “The Cathedral of Our Lady” tells about the structure, describing its beauty. The writer expresses concern, rightly believing that humanity may lose a unique structure.<\/p>\n

    The heroine is a gypsy named Esmeralda. The beauty was carried away by the clergyman Claude Frollo, the bell-ringer Quasimodo, a pupil of the archdeacon, and the captain – Phoebe de Chateauper. Frollo passionately fell in love with a girl, tried to seduce her, but was refused. The enraged priest orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda, which is prevented by Captain Chateauper. Young people liked each other, they had a date. During the meeting, blinded by jealousy, Frollo wounds Phoebus<\/a> and accuses the girl of the crime. She is sentenced to death.<\/p>\n

    Quasimodo hid Esmeralda in the cathedral (God's temple, according to the laws of Catholicism, is a refuge where a person can hide from any offense) in order to save her from the gallows. Esmeralda could not fall in love with the ugly hunchback, but she was imbued with friendly feelings for him. The ending is tragic – Esmeralda dies, the unfortunate Quasimodo takes the girl's body to the temple and also dies of grief.<\/p>\n

    Hugo's novel shocks with its tragedy, vivid images, description<\/a> of Notre Dame Cathedral. They no longer talked about the destruction of the temple – they decided to restore it. Restoration of the building began in 1841 under the leadership of Viollet-le-Duc. Finished in 1864.<\/p>\n

    Museum and Treasury<\/h2>\n

    The museum tells about the history<\/a> of the appearance of the temple, about interesting facts<\/a> related to this place, interesting exhibits are presented here – art objects, utensils. Through the museum you can go to the Treasury, it houses one of the main Christian shrines – part of the Life-Giving Cross and the Savior's Crown of Thorns. Church robes, utensils, paintings, manuscripts, and other items of artistic and historical value are exhibited.<\/p>\n

    Opening hours<\/a> and ticket prices<\/a><\/h2>\n

    The cathedral:<\/p>\n

    Treasury:<\/p>\n

    Admission fee (EUR):<\/p>\n

    There are always a lot of people in this legendary place, so you will have to stand in line before entering the cathedral.<\/p>\n

    Where is it located and how to<\/a> get there<\/a><\/h2>\n

    The cathedral is located on Place Parvi Notre Dame, in the eastern part of the Ile de la Cit\u00e9, 75004, Paris, France<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    You can get there<\/a>:<\/p>\n

    If you are lucky enough to visit France and its beautiful capital, you can't help but admire the Notre Dame Cathedral, this is a majestic and unforgettable sight, the impressions of which will last a lifetime. This is not only the most beautiful architecture, but also the spiritual center<\/a> of Catholicism.<\/p>\n

    Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris<\/a> on the map<\/h2>\n