The symbol of Paris is now the Eiffel Tower, but the “heart” of Paris is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris. It was with him that we began our acquaintance with the French capital.

The cathedral, 35 meters high, stands on the Seine River on the Ile de la Cité. It stands in a majestic bulk in the center of the city, the height of most of the houses in which is about 20 meters.

Notre-Dame de Paris was built in just under 2 centuries, from 1163 to 1345, although its main altar was consecrated already in 1182.

The portals of the cathedral are richly decorated with sculptures on biblical subjects.

The Last Judgment is depicted at the central entrance to Notre-Dame de Paris.

From the side the cathedral looks quite stern. On the top sit gargoyles that have turned green with time, and the stained glass windows of the cathedral from the outside look like dirty windows, and even behind bars.

Stained glass windows located high up are no longer so protected and look delicate. By the way, from the inside of the cathedral they look simply magnificent! But more on that below.

Behind Notre Dame Cathedral there is a small park.

In the center of the park is a statue of Our Lady.

This park is worth visiting if only to see the back of the cathedral.

It is significantly different from the front facade that most tourists look at.

For example, this spire is not visible from the square in front of the cathedral.

Let's go back. On the banks of the Seine in front of Notre Dame Cathedral stands a monument to Charlemagne.

We go inside the cathedral. He's impressive. They say that the cathedral was built in such a way that it could accommodate all 10,000 inhabitants of medieval Paris.

The cathedral is active. We came to the end of the service. By the way, tourists are not prohibited from filming in the Cathedral. They just ask you to do it without flash, so as not to disturb anyone.

And here are the legendary stained glass windows of Notre Dame de Paris.

Entrance to the cathedral is free, but there is a treasury in it, the entrance to which requires a fee.

Various relics, valuables, fragments of relics and especially expensive church items are collected here.

An interesting Catholic tradition is to install a Nativity scene in churches.

In the center, as it should be, is a stable with the baby Jesus and the wise men with gifts.

A separate part of Notre Dame Cathedral is intended more for tourists. For example, there is a model of a cathedral.

Anyone can light a candle here. The candles are right in the boxes with the cost of the candle written on them. You take it, put the coin in the box, and put a candle on it.

There is in Notre Dame de Paris and orthodox icon, donated to the cathedral by Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', Alexy II.

You can climb the towers of the cathedral and the famous gallery of chimeras. To do this, you really have to stand in line under the walls, looking at the hanging gargoyles.

The queue moves slowly, since the staircase to the towers of the cathedral is very narrow and in one of the places it is necessary to go up and down the same staircase on which two people cannot pass each other.

But if time and health permit, it’s worth going upstairs.

Even in cloudy weather, a very interesting view opens up from here.

It is so high that the top is lost in the clouds.

The Seine River embankment, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The hill of Montmartre with the Sacré-Coeur basilica is lost in the fog.

The cathedral has many statues of fantastic animals - chimeras.

Some of them look at the city as if they are terribly worried about what is happening in Paris.

Others look at the angel, waiting for him to start trumpeting.

Chimeras were installed on the cathedral in the mid-19th century, during the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris.

At the foot of the spire are bronze figures of the apostles, greened with time.

And below, as far as visibility is clear, is Paris...

2015, Mochalov Artyom

Photo: Anna & Michal / Flickr.com

Notre Dame Cathedral is a Catholic church in France. It is one of the main attractions of Paris.

Notre Dame Cathedral on the map is geographically located in the east of the island. Cite, in the 4th arrondissement, on the territory of the 1st Christian Church of France. Construction lasted from 1163 to 1345. The cathedral reaches 35 meters in height. The bell towers are at an altitude of 69 meters.

There are two stylistic trends in the architectural structure of the cathedral. In the first, one can notice a share of the Romanesque style with its characteristic rigid and dense combination of details, and in the second, one can note the unusual achievements in Gothic architecture, which provide the structure with simplicity and create a feeling of lightness of the vertical structure.

According to the description of modern archaeologists, several different temples were located on the territory of Notre Dame de Paris.
The construction of the Cathedral began during the time of Louis the Seventh. Scientists have different opinions about the fact who first laid the stone for the construction of Notre Dame. According to some descriptions it was Maurice de Sully, according to other descriptions it was Alexander the Third.

In the spring of 1182, the main altar of the cathedral was consecrated, and 14 years later the nave of the building was almost completed. After another 44 years, the construction of the southern tower was completed, at the same time it was decided not to use the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bcresting the towers with spiers.

The construction of the North Tower was completed in 1250. Later, the interior decoration was also completed. The construction of the western facade began in 1200.

Notre-Dame, with its luxurious halls, has been the venue for royal marriages, coronations and funeral services for several centuries. In 1302, Notre Dame Cathedral served as the meeting place for the country's first parliament.

Charles the Seventh served a prayer service in Notre-Dame Cathedral. And some time later, the wedding celebration of Henry IV and the sister of the King of France Margaret took place here. During the era of Louis XIV, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris underwent severe changes: graves and stained glass windows were destroyed.

During the Great Revolution in France, the revolutionaries said that if the French do not want Notre Dame to be destroyed, they are obliged to pay tribute to the needs of all revolutionary movements that may happen at their request in other countries. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was declared the Temple of Reason.

Architectural features of the Cathedral

The main ideas for the architecture of the Cathedral belong to the architects - Jean de Chelles, who worked on the project for 15 years, and Pierre de Montreuil, who worked on the construction for almost 17 years.

Many different architects took part in the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris; this fact is evidenced by the excellent and interesting in terms of stylistic description and size of the western façade of the building and the tower. Construction of the entire Notre Dame was completed in 1345.

Notre Dame Cathedral in the façade is divided by columns and galleries, and on the lower level there are several portals. Above which passes the Gallery of Kings with several statues, which, according to the description, personify the ancient Jewish rulers. On the lower lintel there are illustrations of the dead being awakened by angels.

Many episodes use visual techniques and symbols to help them be understood as a whole. Let's say, according to the descriptions in the episode of the birth of Christ, the baby is placed above Mary, which indicates his higher status, moreover, he lies on the altar, which, according to historians, indicates his future sacrificial role.

In the architecture of Notre Dame there is no painting on the walls, and the color source is a variety of tall stained glass lancet windows. The doors are decorated with forged reliefs. The roof of the building is made of lead tiles, which are laid overlapping; the weight of the entire roof is about two hundred tons.

Restoration of the Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral began to be restored in 1841, at the instigation of V. Hugo, who attracted wide public attention to this issue in his work, in it he gave detailed description the deplorable state of the Cathedral.

The work was supervised by the architect Viollet-le-Ducas for several years. This famous restoration architect in France also led other restoration work (for example, the restoration of the Gothic church of Sainte-Chapelle).

Work on restoring the Cathedral and sculptural compositions, replacing destroyed statues and erecting a spire lasted for more than 22 years. The idea of ​​placing chimeras - mythical creatures on the Cathedral, taking the gargoyles of the Middle Ages as a model, also applies to this restorer.

So on the upper level at the foot of the Notre Dame towers you can see gargoyles, representing the ancient mythical creatures, and chimeras - individual statues of mythical characters. These sculptures were performed by several sculptors under the direction of J. Deshaume.

There is an interesting belief that if you look at them in the dark for a long time, they “come to life.” And if you take photographs close to a chimera or a photo next to a gargoyle, then the person will appear in the photo as a fossilized statue.

Photo: Cornell University Library / Flickr.com

During the restoration work, the stained glass windows were originally intended to be white, but P. Merimee strongly recommended that they be made similar to the medieval ones.

During the same period of time, the buildings that adjoined the building were demolished, as a result, the current square was formed in front of the façade of the Cathedral.

Cathedral today

Notre Dame is undoubtedly the most popular cathedral in Europe. Many novels have been written about it, descriptions of the temple can be found in many sources and articles, several films have been filmed documentaries and a huge number of photos were taken.

In France, all roads will lead to it - this is what geographers decided back in the eighteenth century. Today, Notre Dame Cathedral attracts many pilgrims and, in fact, it can accommodate 9 thousand people at a time. One of the most best views The view of the temple from the embankment, if you cross the bridge over the Seine, is considered for successful photos.

First of all, Notre Dame attracts with its architecture. Here you want to visit everything, find out, take unforgettable photos. So the height of the temple spire is 96 m.

The base of which is surrounded by four groups of bronze statues of the apostles. Animal symbols are placed in front of them. Each statue is aimed at Paris, with the exception of St. Thomas directed towards the spire.

Most of the stained glass windows were made in the mid-nineteenth century. The main stained glass window measures 9.6 m in diameter - a rose above the entrance to Notre Dame. On the north and south facades of Notre Dame Cathedral there are 2 side roses.

The main bell does not ring often. Others call in the mornings and evenings. All bells have their own name and different weights: one weighs 1.765 tons; second – 1,158 tons; third – 0.813 t; fourth - 0.67 t.

Conclusion

Inside the temple there are transverse naves, which, intertwined with the main longitudinal one, form a cross. In the chapels that are located in right side Notre Dame, there are paintings and sculptural works of various painters, which, according to long-standing customs, are donated to the temple every year at the beginning of May. The temple chandelier is made of bronze coated with silver according to the design of a French architect.

Every year, the Cathedral is visited by millions of travelers, free excursions are held, and tourists are allowed to take photos of the interior of the Cathedral. An exploration of the riches of this attraction can be combined with free admission to organ concerts.

Any user can find a more detailed description and photos of all sculptures, stained glass windows, as well as a high-quality description and photo of the interior of the Cathedral on the official website www.notredamedeparis.fr. In addition, on the website you can view other unique photos, as well as find out useful information about the Cathedral.

In the heart of Paris is the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. For many centuries, the Catholic church has amazed people with its grace, splendor and monumentality.

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Construction of the cathedral began under the reign of Louis YII in 1163. Bishop Maurice de Sully initiated the construction. Historians believe that the foundation was the destroyed St. Stephen's Basilica and other buildings:

1. Romanesque Cathedral
2. Carolingian Cathedral
3. Paleo-Christian Church

The work lasted for almost two centuries, which suggests that there were many participants in the construction, but almost no information about them has been preserved. The names of the architects who began construction are known: Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil. Construction of the temple proceeded slowly.

Despite the fact that parishioners, rich and poor, noble and common people, tried to help the construction by donating whatever amounts they could, there was not enough money. 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 year 1345 is considered to be the end of construction.

Since that time, there have been no major restorations, the building has deteriorated, and there was especially a lot of destruction during the revolution. The figures of the Jewish kings were removed and beheaded, the stained glass windows were broken, and the artistic carvings were 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 residents managed to defend their shrine, but Robespierre declared it a stronghold of obscurantism and renamed it the Temple of Reason.

Interesting fact: sculptures of the 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 and 19th centuries, purchased the statues and buried them with honors. In 1802 the cathedral was returned catholic church and re-consecrated. In the 19th century, they began to repair the building, 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 site of royal weddings, burials, and parliamentary meetings. Here the destitute found lodging for the night and criminals found protection.

Appearance

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris is individual and unique. The cathedral took about two hundred years to build, many architects took part in the work, so the building styles are different - Gothic and Romanesque. The temple is a basilica with double aisles on the sides, a design that was almost never used before. The height of the temple is 35 m, length is 130 m, width is 48 m. The weight of the bell tower, located on the south side, is 13 tons. The façade is divided vertically into three parts, horizontally divided into three rows by galleries, and the façade is crowned by two towers.

The first tier has three portals, they depict the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne and paintings of the Last Judgment. Above the entrance there is a panel with scenes from the Gospel, and statues of saints are installed above the arches. Above is the Gallery of Kings with 28 figures of the kings of Judah. The beauty and brightness of the structure is given by stained glass windows, almost entirely recreated in the 19th century. The main stained glass window (rose) remains from the Middle Ages and has been partially restored. It depicts the image of the Mother of God and other pictures, including virtuous and sinful actions of people. The two roses on the sides are considered the largest in Europe, their diameter is 13 m.

The cathedral is crowned by 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. The statues are installed facing Paris, and only Thomas, who is considered the patron saint of builders, looks at the spire.

Gargoyles

A striking decoration of the façade, 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 Gothic style, gargoyles were intended to drain rainwater; gutters made of stone or metal were installed in them to hide their unattractiveness.

Chimeras are evil demonic creatures, usually depicted as demons, fairy-tale birds or animals with wings like bats. They embody human sins. The architect Viollet-le-Duc decided to install them during a major restoration. He himself made sketches of the 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. It’s interesting that if you take a picture with them to a living person, they seem like stone sculptures, while gargoyles and chimeras look full of life.

Interior decoration

The internal space of Gothic architecture is created thanks to transverse and longitudinal naves, forming the shape of a cross. There are no internal walls supporting the structure in the room; they are replaced by two rows of columns. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with artistic carvings. One part of the cathedral contains sculptures, paintings and other works of art, which are presented by parishioners on May 1, a Catholic holiday dedicated to Our Lady.

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 a temple, the largest in Europe. It was reconstructed and rebuilt many times. Along the spiral staircase you can get to the South Tower of the temple, from which a grandiose panorama of the city opens up; it’s convenient to see the bell, gargoyles and chimeras from a close distance.

The center 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 steel-gray stone. Since, according to Gothic canons, the walls are not decorated with wall paintings, the somewhat gloomy picture is enlivened by the sunlight entering through colored stained glass and lancet windows, giving the temple color and brightness. The chapels located on the sides tell about the earthly life of the Mother of God. The central stained glass window contains several dozen scenes from the Old Testament.

The novel that glorified the cathedral

TO 19th century The cathedral had become so dilapidated that it was about to be demolished. The publication of the novel “Notre Dame de Paris” by the French writer Victor Hugo in 1831 contributed to his salvation. The novelist wrote about good and evil, love and hate. The idea did not arise by chance - Hugo was an ardent defender of ancient architecture and his activities were aimed at protecting it. The chapter of the novel “The Cathedral of Our Lady” talks about the structure, describing its beauty. The writer expresses concern, rightly believing that humanity may lose a unique structure.

The heroine is a gypsy named Esmeralda. The clergyman Claude Frollo, the bell-ringer Quasimodo, a pupil of the archdeacon, and the captain, Phoebus de Chateaupert, became infatuated with the beauty. Frollo fell passionately in love with the girl, tried to seduce her, but was refused. The enraged priest orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda, but Captain Chateaupert prevents this. The young people liked each other and had a date. During the meeting, Frollo, blinded by jealousy, wounds Phoebus and accuses the girl of the crime. She is sentenced to death.

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 it from the gallows. Esmeralda could not fall in love with the ugly hunchback, but she developed friendly feelings towards him. The ending is tragic - Esmeralda dies, the unfortunate Quasimodo takes the girl’s body to the temple and also dies of grief.

Hugo's novel is stunning with its tragedy, vivid images, and description of Notre Dame Cathedral. They no longer talked about destroying the temple; they decided to restore it. Restoration of the building began in 1841 under the leadership of Viollet-le-Duc. Finished in 1864.

Museum and treasury

The museum tells about the history of the appearance of the temple, about interesting facts Associated with this place, there are interesting exhibits here - art objects, utensils. Through the museum you can go to the Treasury, which houses one of the main Christian shrines - part Life-giving cross and the Savior's Crown of Thorns. Church vestments, utensils, paintings, manuscripts, and other items of artistic and historical value are exhibited.

“Il est venu le temps des cathédrales”...the song from the musical “Notre-Dame de Paris”, which became so popular, brought fame not only to the performers, but also aroused the world’s interest in Victor Hugo’s novel, and in the most grandiose cathedral in France, Notre Dame Cathedral.

The cathedral, glorified by Victor Hugo in his novel of the same name, is considered the main spiritual center of Paris, and many call it the “heart” of the city. Rising above Paris, the cathedral attracts not only with its splendor, but also with its many secrets; legends are made about the secrets of Notre Dame Cathedral.

On the site of the current Notre Dame in the 4th century there was the Church of St. Sebastian, and not far from it there was a temple Mother of God. However, in the 12th century. Both of these buildings fell into deplorable condition, and the Parisian Bishop Maurice de Sully decided to build in their place new cathedral, which, according to his plan, was to surpass in its grandeur all the cathedrals of the world.

The construction of Notre Dame Cathedral lasted almost two centuries. More than a dozen famous architects worked on its appearance, but the greatest contribution to the creation of such a multifaceted cathedral was made by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil.

The length of the cathedral is 130 meters, the height of the towers is 69 meters, the capacity is about 9,000 people.

Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter. The first stone of the basilica was laid by the Pope Alexander III in 1163.

Many different architects took part in the construction, as evidenced by the different style and height of the western façade and towers.

The towers were completed in 1245, and the entire cathedral in 1345. The gigantic size of the cathedral had no equal until the middle of the 13th century, when the construction of cathedrals began in Reims and Amiens.

Le Corbusier spoke of the western façade of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as “a pure creation of the spirit.” Indeed, there are two present here geometric figures- a circle and a square symbolize, respectively, the infinity of God and the limited space he created. Their coexistence in the lines of the facade shows how the world of God invades the world created through the sacraments of the Incarnation and the Nativity of Christ.

Under the balustrade stretches the “gallery of kings”, 28 statues of which represent 28 generations of Jewish kings - the ancestors of Jesus and Mary.

The western façade of Notre-Dame has three entrances; their pointed portals are decorated with sculptural panels depicting various episodes of the Gospel. Here the essence of Christianity is briefly and expressively told and embodied.

Pictured is the central portal, known as the "Portal Last Judgment"The entrance arches are supported by seven statues on each side. Below in the center on the lintel are depicted the dead rising from their graves, awakened by two angels with trumpets. Above them is a scene of the weighing of the souls of the dead by the Archangel Michael. According to this, the chosen ones are led to Paradise (according to right hand from Christ), and the devil leads the damned to hell, to the left. Further up, on the tympanum, Christ the Judge and angels are depicted. The curves of the vault are occupied by images of angels, patriarchs, prophets, martyrs and virgins.

The northern "Portal of Our Lady" tells about the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, her ascension to Paradise and coronation as the Queen of Heaven.

The facades of Notre Dame Cathedral are richly decorated with sculptures. They are among the best sculptures of the Middle Ages. The sculptures tell us the story from the Fall to the Last Judgment.

The spire of the Cathedral, at the base of the statue of the Apostles.

Equestrian sculpture of Charlemagne in front of the façade

Behind the Cathedral of the Cathedral Fountain of the Virgin

The decoration of the cathedral is dominated by grey colour, this is the color of the stone from which the walls are made. The cathedral has very few windows and is quite dark and gloomy. The only source of light is the stained glass windows, but the light penetrating through the numerous stained glass windows fills the temple with a variety of shades.

In addition to candles, the cathedral is additionally illuminated with bronze chandeliers, but the light is still not enough, and it takes some time for the eyes to get used to the twilight reigning inside. This play of light gives the cathedral a special enchanting beauty and a certain mystery.

The majestic interior of the cathedral, its incredible size of naves and transepts amaze everyone who enters! North Dame served as the site of the coronations of French monarchs and the blessing of the crusaders. And on August 18, 1572, it was here that the marriage of Henry of Navarre (the future King Henry IV) and Margaret of Valois, familiar to us from Dumas’ famous novel “Queen Margot,” took place.

The massiveness of the columns on which the pointed arches of the naves rest is facilitated by carved capitals. The ornament with which they are decorated resembles the foliage of trees and serves as a reminder of the Garden of Eden.

Standing with your back to the entrance, you can take in at one glance the central nave, the main altar in the center with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as the intersection of the central nave and the transept of the cathedral - the middle cross, especially illuminated and marked with the image of the Virgin Mary.

First, having felt a subtle aroma that cannot be confused with anything, and then - seeing a huge bouquet of royal lilies that exudes it, you can see the image of the Virgin Mary - actually Our Lady of Paris - towering in the depths of the temple. This 14th-century work was placed in the cathedral only in 1818 to replace a 13th-century statue destroyed during the French Revolution. Placed in its historical location, this Virgin Mary is one of 37 images of Our Lady in the cathedral dedicated to her.

The gloominess of the pointed arches of Notre Dame is brightened up by bright stained glass windows, which decorate not only the huge rose windows of the northern and southern portals, but also numerous windows located under the very stream.

It is thanks to these amazingly clear and richly colored pictures that the temple ceases to oppress and constrain with its size, the stained glass windows add “humanity” to the interior and the meager lighting of the cathedral is reborn into a mysterious twilight. In front of these bright spots, you involuntarily stop and look at the images, trying to remember or recognize this or that biblical story that the stained glass window illustrates.

Of course, rose windows also make a colossal impression. Pictured here is the north rosette, created around 1250, the one that retains much of the original glass. In the center is the Virgin Mary carrying the baby Jesus in her womb, surrounded by characters Old Testament. Both rosettes with a diameter of 13 m are considered masterpieces of Christian art.

Like most Catholic cathedrals (as opposed to Orthodox), Notre Dame has a double gallery surrounding the choir and high altar. It disappears along the altar barrier - a high partition separating the choir from the nave, which allowed the priests to pray in peace and solitude, protecting themselves from the noisy flock.

On the gallery side, the altar barrier is decorated with polychrome bas-reliefs, which, however, are only partially preserved in their original form. Here in the photo is a bas-relief in which you can recognize Christ and his disciples.

The cathedral houses one of the greatest relics of Christianity - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ. He traveled from Jerusalem to Constantinople. Until 1063 it was kept in Jerusalem; in 1063 it was transported to Constantinople. Then the crusading warriors captured Byzantium.

Byzantium was in a plundered state, local princes needed money, and Bedouin II began to sell off relics. So the crown of thorns was redeemed by Louis IX.

In 1239, the Crown of Thorns was delivered to Paris. By order of Louis, he was placed in a specially built chapel, where he remained until the French Revolution. During the revolution, the chapel was destroyed, but the crown was saved, and in 1809 it was placed in Notre Dame Cathedral, where it remains to this day.

Along with the Crown of Thorns, the cathedral also contains a nail from the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Another nail can be seen in the cathedral of the city of Carpentras. Two more nails are in Italy.

Nails have long been a debate among historians; how many were there, three or four? But the answer to this question has not been found to this day.

Notre Dame is surrounded by legends. One of these legends is associated with the gate in front of the entrance to the cathedral. They are so magnificent that it is difficult to believe that man could have created them. Legend has it that their author was a blacksmith named Biscornet, who, commissioned by the canon of Notre Dame, agreed to forge a gate worthy of the grandeur of the cathedral. Biscornet was afraid of not justifying the trust of the canon, and he decided to turn to the devil for help, promising to give his soul for a magnificent job.

The gates for the cathedral were a real masterpiece; openwork interlacing was combined with figured locks. But the trouble is, even the blacksmith could not open the locks on the gates; they did not yield to anyone, only after sprinkling with holy water did they yield. Biscorne could not explain what was happening, he was speechless, and a few days later he died from an unknown illness. And he took one of the secrets of Notre Dame Cathedral with him to the grave.

But the most exciting and memorable event for me when visiting the cathedral was a walk through the gallery of chimeras!

Looking from the outside at the walls of the cathedral from bottom to top, you can see with the naked eye monsters, bats, vampires and mythical creatures built out of stone, which seem to jump out and crawl out.... In fact, these are nothing more than the ends of beams and ceilings , covered with the faces of monsters. This combination of images of demons with the building itself seems completely unthinkable and incompatible. Christian temple. However, according to Christian iconography, everything here is logical and natural. In the Middle Ages, people believed that like scared away like, and accordingly, in order to ward off evil spirits and the Evil One himself from the temple, it was necessary to depict this very evil spirit on the temple itself. This is how these strange creatures “settled” here. And either they are guarding the temple, or they are fleeing from it, gripped by horror.....

But why do they “decorate” the temple building? Are they just a decorative element, or are they endowed with some kind of mystical powers?

Chimeras have long been considered the silent guardians of the cathedral. It was believed that at night chimeras came to life and walked around their possessions, carefully guarding the peace of the building. In fact, according to the creators of the cathedral, chimeras personify human character and the diversity of moods: from melancholy to anger, from smiles to tears. Chimeras are so “humanized” that they began to seem like living beings. And there is a legend that if you look at them in the twilight for a very long time, they “come to life.” And if you take a photo next to a chimera, then in the photo the person looks like a stone statue.

At the corners of each of the bell towers there are statues of chimeras and gargoyles - an intricate invention of the architect Viollet-le-Duc, who has been in charge of restoration work at Notre Dame since 1841, and who wanted to decorate the building in this way, and at the same time arouse interest and attract public attention to it.

This is the most famous of the chimeras and can be seen immediately at the entrance to the gallery. As if lost in thought, she contemplates from above the life of the ever-changing capital... I confess that I came to the gallery partly for this shot, because I had already seen such an image many times, but, of course, I wanted to verify the existence of such a character myself.

All these incredible monsters, hybrid animals and fantastic birds perched on the ledges of the bell towers and “guard” the ancient building.... And here, even more than there below, you are amazed at this combination of incongruous things in one and the same place - good and evil, holiness and vice exist here, independently and parallel to each other, is the sacred abode of Christianity, and evil spirits on its bell towers....And yet - all this forms a single building of the temple, an architectural complex, to which, perhaps, the epithet “frozen music” is most suitable.

But the gargoyles of Notre Dame settled here already in the Middle Ages. Yes, gargoyles and chimeras are not the same thing. Gargoyles are inferior in popularity to their “younger sisters”. And it is believed that the most beautiful gargoyles are at the level of the flying buttresses of the choir. If chimeras are a decorative element of the cathedral, then gargoyles had a completely different purpose.

WITH French gargouille translates as gutter or drainpipe. Thus, the monsters are nothing more than drainpipes that divert streams of rainwater from the roof and walls of the cathedral.

Notre Dame Cathedral is so diverse and diverse that it attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Every Sunday you can attend a Catholic mass, and hear the largest organ in France, hear the extraordinary sound of a six-ton ​​bell (it was this bell that Quasimodo had a special love for)

The views of Paris from the heights of the cathedral are amazing! The entire city can be covered at one glance. In the east - the Seine and modern part cities...

And in the west, there is its historical part. On the Ile de la Cité you can see the Sainte-Chapelle chapel and the Palace of Justice, and further away are the Louvre, the La Défense district and the Eiffel Tower.

Having been in the gallery of chimeras for 5-10 minutes, you don’t know where to look: either at the gargoyles, or at Paris, or at the cathedral that has become incredibly close, at those corners of it that are not visible from below, and to which here - just a stone's throw away!

For example - to a 90 m high spire, designed by the same Viollet-le-Duc instead of a small spire that was destroyed during the Revolution...

Or to the angel announcing the Last Day of the World...

Or to bloodthirsty monsters devouring their victims...

"Emmanuel" weighs more than 13 tons, and its tongue weighs about 500 kg. The bell rings only on the most solemn days - on major Catholic holidays.

There is a certain extraordinary harmony and harmony in the entire appearance of this particular temple. Bulky and monolithic - at first glance, and extraordinary lightness and airiness - if you look more closely, or walk around and examine it from all sides.
This square behind the cathedral is one of the most secluded and cozy corners in the city. Very close by are crowded boulevards, water bus piers, metro stations, noisy squares, crowds of restless three hundred attacking the cathedral itself and other attractions of the Ile de la Cité... But it’s quiet here. The water in the fountain is quietly gurgling, the flower beds are fragrant, random passers-by are resting in the shade of the trees... And the cathedral itself is the logical dominant feature of this place, where the gaze of everyone who is here is directed. From here there is a wonderful view of the sculptural compositions, rose windows and arched buttresses and flying buttresses of the eastern part of the cathedral. It is unlikely that Notre Dame would be so monumental and impressive if it were not reliably protected from its most vulnerable and fragile side - from the rear - by such a wonderful garden... And the more time you spend here, the more you wonder: is it a cathedral? built in the middle of the garden.....either the garden was planted around the cathedral in order to cover and protect it from all evil spirits and from prying eyes

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

God's Garden ~ Notre Dame de Paris

Altar of the North-Dame with kneeling statues of Louis XIII and Louis XIV

Temples have been located in this place since time immemorial; even in the era of the Romans, there was a temple dedicated to Jupiter. Later, the Merovingians, who ruled Gaul in 500-571, built the Cathedral of St. Etienne here.

Notre Dame Cathedral was founded in 1163 by Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, and the cornerstone was laid by Pope Alexander III. Its construction lasted until 1345, that is, it took almost two centuries. During this time, the project was led by dozens of architects, which did not stop them from erecting a beautiful and organic ensemble. According to historical data, several other churches, both Christian and pagan, previously existed on the same site.

The construction of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris took place with the participation of many architects, but its main creators, who made the greatest contribution, are considered to be Pierre de Montreuil and Jean de Chelles. The building was founded during the reign of Louis VII. It was then that the Gothic style in architecture became popular, which was used by architects. This direction successfully mixed with Romanesque style from the traditions of Normandy, which gave the cathedral a unique appearance.

Painting "Coronation of Napoleon I" (December 2, 1804), painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1807

The history of France and Notre Dame cannot be separated, because it was here that the knights offered their prayers when going on the Crusades, the coronation of Napoleon, the celebration of the victory over Hitler’s troops and many other events took place.

North Dame is shrouded in an atmosphere of mysticism and dark romance West façade of Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral suffered greatly from inept reconstructions during the events of the late 18th century, and later due to popular neglect. Thus, the French Revolution almost deprived the world of this unique architectural monument; they even wanted to burn it. Many sculptures were broken or beheaded, stained glass windows were destroyed, and precious utensils were looted. The building was declared the Temple of Reason, then the center of the Cult of the Supreme Being, and later simply turned into a food warehouse. The architectural ensemble was saved from complete destruction by Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre Dame de Paris,” which occupied a central place in the story of the hunchback’s love for a beautiful gypsy. The publication of the work not only made the writer famous, but also drew the attention of the general public to the exceptional historical as well as aesthetic value of the ancient building.

This is where the “Zero Kilometer” is located - the starting point of all distances in France

It was decided to reconstruct Notre Dame according to all the rules of ancient technologies. Viollet-le-Duc successfully coped with such a difficult task, since the architect had knowledge of the construction methods of the ancient masters who worked on the construction of the temple. The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral lasted more than a quarter of a century. During this time, the facades were restored and interior decoration, reconstructed the gallery of sculptures and part of the gargoyles, destroyed by the revolutionaries, and returned all the remaining infernal “guards” to their rightful place.

Additionally, a spire more than 95 meters high was built and installed on the roof. In subsequent years, Parisians treated their shrine with extreme reverence. It is noteworthy that the temple was practically not damaged during the period of two World Wars. At the end of the 20th century, another restoration was initiated, which made it possible to completely clean the building from city dust and return the sandstone from which the façade is made to its original golden hue.

View of Notre Dame Cathedral through the arch

Video: Consequences of a fire in the cathedral

Facade and gargoyles

The most popular attribute of the external decoration of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris remains stone demonic creatures. Gargoyles are present here in large numbers and are intended not only for decoration, but also to drain water from the numerous drains on the roof. The fact is that the unusually complex structure of the roof contributes to the accumulation of moisture due to precipitation, since it cannot drain as freely as from ordinary houses. This can lead to the development of mold, dampness and destruction of the stone, so high-quality gutters are a must for any Gothic cathedral.

Traditionally, unattractive pipe exits were disguised with figures of gargoyles, chimeras, dragons, and less often, people or real animals. Many see in these demonic images hidden meanings, so there is a lot of room for imagination here. It is noteworthy that at the time of construction there were no stone demons on the cathedral; they were installed at the suggestion of the restorer Viollet-le-Duc, who used this medieval tradition.

Gargoyles of Notre Dame

The main façade is decorated with stone statues and has three portals. The main one is located in the middle, its arches support seven statues on each side, and the main decor is relief scenes of the Last Judgment. The right portal is dedicated to Saint Anne, where the Blessed Virgin and Child are depicted, and the left one is dedicated to the Mother of God, with the signs of the zodiac and the image of the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The huge doors are decorated with forged relief images.

The already mentioned spire on the roof replaced the one that was dismantled at the end of the 18th century. The design is decorated with four groups of apostles, as well as animals corresponding to the evangelists. All the statues face the French capital, with the exception of the patron saint of architects, St. Thomas, who seems to be admiring the spire.

Almost all the stained glass windows are quite modern, made during the restoration of the temple in the 19th century. Only in the central compass rose are some medieval parts preserved. The pattern of this large-scale structure (9.5 meters in diameter) made of colored glass depicts Mary, as well as rural works, the signs of the Zodiac, human virtues and sins. The northern and southern facades are equipped with the largest roses that exist in Europe. Each of them is about 13 meters in diameter.

Facade of Notre Dame, including 3 portals: the Virgin, the Last Judgment and St. Anne, as well as the Gallery of the Kings from above

Interior of Notre Dame Cathedral

North Rose of Notre Dame Cathedral

The design in longitudinal section is a cross, in the center of which there is a complex of sculptural images of various gospel scenes. Interestingly, there are no internal supporting walls here; their function is performed by multifaceted columns. A large number of artistic carving is filled with unearthly light, which is colored in different colors, passing through the glass of several roses. On the right side of Notre Dame, tourists can admire the wonderful sculptures, paintings and other works of art that are traditionally presented to Our Lady every year on the first of May. The majestic central chandelier was made according to sketches by Viollet-le-Duc; after reconstruction, it replaced the chandelier, melted down during the French Revolution.

Interior of Notre Dame

Stained glass window of Notre Dame. Due to the abundance of biblical scenes in the Middle Ages, the cathedral was called the “Bible for those who don’t read.”

Between the portal and the higher tier is the Gallery of the Kings, where sculptures of Old Testament rulers are exhibited. The revolutionaries ruthlessly destroyed the original statues, so they were made anew. At the end of the 20th century, fragments of individual sculptures were found under one of the Parisian houses. It turned out that the owner bought them in troubled times in order to bury them with honors, and later built his own home on this place.

It is impossible not to mention the majestic organ installed in Notre Dame Cathedral. It was equipped during the construction of the temple, and was rebuilt and reconstructed many times. Today, this organ is the largest in France in terms of the number of registers and the second in the number of pipes, some of which have survived since the Middle Ages.

Organ in Notre Dame Cathedral

South bell tower

South tower of Notre Dame Cathedral

If you want to enjoy Parisian panoramas that are not inferior in beauty to the view from the Eiffel Tower, you should definitely climb the South Tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. A spiral staircase of 387 steps leads here, climbing which you will see the main bell of the cathedral, Emmanuel, and you will also be able to see the gargoyles in close proximity. It is believed that they look so carefully to the west because they wait for sunset, after which they come to life every night.

Museum and treasury

There is a museum in the cathedral, where every visitor can learn about the history of the temple in detail, listen to many famous and little-known stories associated with this place. Various exhibits that directly relate to the centuries-old life of Notre Dame are stored here.

In the Treasury of the North-Dame de Paris

From the shrine you can go to the underground Treasury, located under the square in front of the cathedral. It contains historical and religious relics: utensils, precious art objects, and so on. But the most important exhibits are the Crown of Thorns of Christ, one of the nails with which Jesus was crucified, and a fragment of that same cross.

Gargoyle of Notre Dame

Procedure and cost of visiting

To get inside Notre Dame Cathedral, you will have to wait in a long line. According to statistics, every day, depending on the time of year, from 30 to 50 thousand people cross the threshold of Notre Dame. Entrance to the cathedral itself is free, but to climb the bell tower each adult will have to pay 15 euros. Those under 26 years of age can enter for free. The cost of visiting the Treasury is 4 euros for adults, 2 € for young people 12-26 years old, 1 € for visitors 6-12 years old. Children under 6 years old can enter free of charge. In addition, on all Fridays of Lent, as well as on the first days of each month, treasures are brought out for public viewing free of charge. Such exhibitions usually begin around three o'clock in the afternoon.

Each visitor has the opportunity to use an audio guide in English, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese. The cost of this service is 5 euros.

How to get there

The full address of the shrine is: 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, Ile de la Cit, 75004 Paris. The Chalete, Isle de la Cité and Hotel de Ville metro stations are a five-minute walk away. In addition, you can use bus routes No. 21, 38, 47 or 85. On weekdays, Notre Dame Cathedral is open from 8.00 to 18.45, on Saturdays and Sundays from 7.00 to 15.00. Every Saturday services are held here at 5.45 and also at 18.15.

Notre Dame Cathedral illuminated