Stories
Notre-Dame Cathedral
It was here that 11-month-old Henry VI of England was crowned King of France in 1422, where the Wolves of Paris were trapped and killed in 1450, where Mary Queen of Scotland married the French Dauphin in 1558, where the 1804 coronation ceremony of Napoléon and Joséphine took place, where in the 1830s Victor Hugo was inspired to write about his famous hunchback, where in 1909 Joan of Arc was first beatified and canonized a year later, and where thousands upon thousands of visitors come each year to marvel at the architecture, take in a service or stand outside at "point zero," the reference point for distances along all the French highways‑because everything begins and ends in Paris.
Notre Dame de Paris‑perhaps the most glorious example of French Gothic architecture‑is home to the famous stained glass Rose Windows, the flying buttress and gargoyles. Need to contemplate those gargoyles? Head up to the upper towers of the cathedral, but get ready for steps because, as with most churches, elevators don't exist here (during the summer on Saturday and Sunday, the tower visits run until 11 p.m., a fantastic time to catch a glimpse of Paris at night). The 63-foot magnificence of the famous South Rose Window‑with its symbol upon symbol of circles, numerical orders and images that seemingly dance through the streaming sunlight‑will leave you in awe (directly across is its counterpart, the gorgeous North Rose Window). To see some of the ancient history of Notre Dame's renovations, visit the Crypt of Parvis.
Notre Dame de Paris
Paris 4th
Métro: #4 Cité, #4 Saint-Michel, #1 Hôtel de Ville
Bus: #21, #38, #47, #85, #96
Velib: 04002 Marche Aux Fleurs Place Louis Lépine
2011 hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:45pm, Sat & Sun 8:00am-7:15pm. Sat & Sun during the summer months the tower visits run until 11 p.m.
Entry to the Cathedral is free of charge. Please remember that this is a place of worship, speak in hushed tones and remember to turn off your cell phones!
Ammenities: 35-minute audioguides in the language of your choice are available, as well, guided tours.
To attend a service: To make confession to a priest in the language of your choice, or to find the special places to pray, please visit the official Notre Dame website noted above.
Stories about Notre-Dame Cathedral
-
Paris Reflections: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
By Christiann AndersonThe area called Pigalle was teeming with African American life in the era between the two World Wars. Many of the ‘’after hours’’ clubs established by African Americans became a refuge for the black American ''expat'' community. Although the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette / Opéra walk features many nightclubs, including those owned by the first African-American combat pilot, Eugene Bullard (Bullard was instrumental in the success of ‘’Black Montmartre’’), there other locations of interest on this fascinating walk. Last Updated ( Monday, 07 April 2008 ) -
Notre-Dame and Hotel-Dieu: Paris Landmarks
By Thirza Vallois
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 May 2011 )
Hôtel-Dieu is the oldest hospital in Paris. Built in the 12th century on the southern side of the Notre Dame Cathedral esplanade, it gradually expanded to occupy the whole area between Petit Pont and Pont au Double. Thirza Vallois on the history of two popular landmarks to visit, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris and Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris.
