Everyone more or less Big City in countries where the main religion is Christianity (and not only in them), it can boast of a cathedral and, sometimes, more than one.

Perhaps the most famous, most bewitching and extraordinary, having absorbed many legends, is Notre Dame Cathedral, or Notre-Dame de Paris. It can be called the heart of France.

On the square in front of the cathedral there is a “zero kilometer” sign; all roads in the country are counted from this point.

It was built on the Ile de la Cité, which is also called the “cradle of Paris.” Once upon a time there was an ancient temple of Jupiter on this site, and then the first Christian church Paris - St. Stephen's Basilica.

The history of Notre-Dame de Paris

The history of the cathedral begins with the appointment of the Bishop of Paris Maurice de Sully, who became the main initiator of the construction of the most remarkable temple in all of France. Pope Alexander III was present at the ceremony of laying the first stone in 1163, which has given historians reason to assume that he personally laid the stone.

Construction of the building lasted almost 170 years, although the main part of the cathedral was actually completed in 1196, when the nave of the building was completed. A few days after the completion of work in the nave, Maurice de Sgolly, who was already well over seventy, died. The cathedral was completely completed in 1330.

Due to such a long construction period, the cathedral building contains features of both Romanesque and Gothic styles, which gives it both monumentality and grace. In the south and east of the cathedral there are two bell towers, the height of which is 69 meters.

Features of the interior design of the cathedral

Since the decoration was completed during the era of the dominance of the Gothic style, there are no frescoes inside, and the only source of color is the giant stained glass windows in the lancet windows.

Unfortunately, of the original stained glass windows, only the part in the south “rose” window has survived to this day. It depicts Christ surrounded by the Virgin Mary, saints and 12 apostles.

In the 17th-18th centuries, the cathedral was partially rebuilt; the pulpit and tombs inside were demolished, and some of the original stained glass windows were replaced with ordinary glass.

But real disasters befell the cathedral during the era Great French Revolution.

First, it was looted and partially destroyed, then turned into a “temple of Reason,” after which it completely became a wine warehouse.

Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the cathedral was reconsecrated, but after the return of the Bourbons, it was abandoned and was under threat of demolition.

In 1841, restoration began and lasted 23 years. The renovation work was led by Viollet-le-Duc, who came up with the idea of ​​​​creating the famous statues of chimeras at the foot of the towers.

The Virgin Mary with two angels is located in the center of the main stained glass rose window, whose diameter is 9.6 meters, and to the left and right, as a reminder of the original sin, are Adam and Eve.

Wrought iron with a fanciful pattern adds beauty to the doors of the entrance doors to the Cathedral.

The North and South portals have their own names, the North one - in honor Virgin Mary, and the southern one - in honor St. Anne's.

Scenes of the Last Judgment are located on the central portal. The ledges are famous for the figures depicted on them: on the left is Saint Dionysius, the first bishop, on the right is Saint Etienne, the deacon.

The lighting in Notre Dame is natural, but very poor, since the light penetrates only through the tall, lancet windows, glazed with stained glass.

As is typical for all Catholic churches, unlike Orthodox churches, there is absolutely no painting on the walls of the Cathedral. And only around the main altar the walls are covered with reliefs telling about the life of Jesus Christ.

The main, largest bell, whose tone is F sharp, sounds quite rarely. All other bells, which have their own names, ring at eight o'clock in the morning and seven o'clock in the evening.

Bell names:

1. Angelique Francoise, weight is 1765 kg, tone C sharp.
2. Antoinette Charlotte, weight is 1158 kg, tone D-sharp.
3. Hyacinthe Jeanne, weight is 813 kg, tone F.
4. Denise David, weight is 670 kg, tone F-sharp.

Believers are given the opportunity to venerate the shrines on the first Friday of every month, as well as on Good Friday Catholic fasting. It is on these days that the Crown of Thorns, a particle of the Cross of the Lord and the Grape of the Cross become available for worship.

But the queue is huge, you need to come and take a seat early, long before the start of the ceremonies.

Listening to the amazing sound of the six-ton ​​bell, one cannot help but recall the immortal work of Victor Hugo and his main characters - the hunchback Quasimodo, the beautiful Esmeralda, the handsome Phoebus... After all, it was to this bell that the unfortunate Quasimodo entrusted all his troubles and suffering.

And every Sunday a mass is held in the Cathedral, to which everyone is allowed. At Mass you can enjoy the sounds of the largest organ in the country. Admission is free these days.

Notre Dame de Paris is second only to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in popularity; tourists come here in the millions.

Over the centuries of the Cathedral's existence, people gathered there huge collection ceremonial things and religious shrines, such as a piece of the cross and a nail from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, various manuscripts, sacred cups, robes.

During the excursion you will climb 422 steps of a spiral staircase, exit to observation deck and enjoy a beautiful view of the Ile de la Cité.

It is here that you will see a thirteen-ton bell named Emmanuel, which sounds only on special occasions - during major church holidays and after terrible disasters, when all nations unite in common grief and compassion, for example, this happened after the tragedy of the Twin Towers in America.

The further path also runs through Gallery of Chimeras, created only in the nineteenth century.

To purchase tickets and get on the tour, you need to find the foot of the North Tower from Monastery Street (address: Rue du cloitre Notre-Dame), buy tickets and enjoy immersing yourself in history.

Children, too, undoubtedly should visit this one of the main attractions of Paris.

But to make it more interesting for them, first show them the Disney cartoon “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Then the children will not yawn and dream of leaving as quickly as possible, but will begin to look at everything around and try to compare what they saw in the cartoon with reality.

Notre Dame Cathedral Address

• 6 pl. du Parvis Notre-Dame
• Metro: Cite or St-Michel RER: St-Michel

Cathedral opening hours

• 8.00 – 18.45 (Saturday and Sunday: until 19.15)

Opening hours of the towers and the Chimera Gallery (may differ from the opening hours of the Cathedral itself)

• October 1 - March 31: 10.00 - 17.30
• April 1 - September 30: 10.00 - 18.30 (on Saturdays and Sundays in June, July and August until 23.00)
• Entry closes a quarter of an hour before closing
• The cathedral is closed: January 1, May 1 and December 25

Entrance to the cathedral is free. In the towers - paid for adults, under 18 years old free.

A tragedy for all of France. As a result of the fire, the spire, clock and roof of the building collapsed. Firefighters managed to save both bell towers of the cathedral; the flames did not affect the main shrines: the crown of thorns, the tunic of St. Louis; Several paintings were saved. According to firefighters, the source of the fire was scaffolding erected in the attic of the cathedral. Let us remind you that restoration work began in the spring of this year, it was planned to complete the work by 2022. The fire started at 18:50 local time on April 15; as of April 16, the fire was extinguished. One firefighter was injured during the rescue operation.

Results of the fire

The President of France arrived at the scene with his wife, who promised to completely restore the relic, with the assistance of “the best talents of our time.” There is hope for a complete restoration, since the cathedral has been thoroughly studied and ancient drawings have been preserved.

According to preliminary estimates, the damage will cost hundreds of millions of euros. Today, the Heritage Foundation announced the start of a national fundraising campaign for the restoration of the cathedral; according to the latest data, 240 people donated more than 6 thousand euros to the Foundation.

According to preliminary estimates, restoration of the building may take at least 10 years.

At the moment, all residents have been evacuated from the Ile de la Cité; for safety reasons, navigation along the Seine in the vicinity of the island is prohibited.

The Paris prosecutor's office is investigating into unintentional damage caused by the fire.

Notre Dame Cathedral - Notre-Dame de Paris

Each country has objects - associations. In Paris, in my opinion, there are two of them - and Notre Dame Cathedral. To visit Paris and not see (at least!) these two masterpieces of architectural thought is a real crime.

More than 14 million tourists annually visit this place, which holds unsolved secrets and mystical revelations.

A place of “incredible power”—that’s what Parisian guides call the cathedral when they introduce people to its history and architecture. And legends add a mystical spirit to the object.

Photos of the cathedral

• Notre-Dame is built on the site where four different churches stood in ancient times: the Christian Parish, the Merovingian Basilica, the Carolingian Temple and the Romanesque Cathedral. By the way, it was the ruins of the last cathedral that served as the foundation for the current one.
• Construction lasted 182 years (1163-1345). After 19 years of construction work, the main altar appeared, which was immediately consecrated; after another 14 years, construction of the nave was completed. Then construction continued on the territory of the central (western) facade, which is richly decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs.
• The western facade and two towers took 45 years to build (1200-1245). The different heights of the towers are explained by the fact that many architects worked on the construction, who mixed two styles - Romanesque and Gothic.
• In the summer of 1239, King Louis IX brought the main shrine and relic into the temple - the Crown of Thorns.
• The gargoyles on top of Notre Dame Cathedral were previously used as drainpipes - now they are one of the decorations of the building.
• Instead of the usual wall paintings depicting saints, there are tall stained glass windows, which are both a decoration of the cathedral and a source of light. Stained glass windows separated the rooms, since at the end of construction there was not a single wall in the cathedral. Instead of walls there were columns and arches.
• After completion of construction, the cathedral was the main spiritual center of France - royal weddings, coronations, funerals and other important events on a national scale were held here. Despite the important role of the cathedral in the life of the country, its walls also welcomed commoners who received assistance.
• The rich people trusted the walls of the cathedral and brought all their treasures for safekeeping. It was in this way that a treasury was formed within the walls of the temple.
• During the French Revolution, the Jacobins wanted to destroy the cathedral, but the residents managed to save it - they collected money in support of the rebels and transferred it to the new government. Despite the agreement, the revolutionaries did not fully keep their promise - bells were melted into cannons, tombstones into bullets, sculptures of Jewish kings were beheaded. The cathedral building was used as a wine warehouse - it was during this period that Notre Dame lost its significance. The Catholic church was returned to the clergy only in 1802.
• Thanks to Victor Hugo’s famous novel “Notre Dame de Paris” (1831), where the writer set out to awaken people’s love for French architecture, restoration of the cathedral began in 1841. The famous gallery of chimeras appeared on the upper platform in front of the towers. Sculptors created images mythical creatures, which embodied the character of a person and the diversity of his moods. The restoration lasted 23 years, during which restorers were able to replace all the broken sculptures, erect a high spire, and restore stained glass windows. The buildings that were adjacent to the cathedral were removed, thanks to which a square appeared in front of the main entrance.
• In 2013, in honor of the 850th anniversary of the cathedral, new bells were cast, in the amount of 9 units. The largest church organ in France, which appeared here at the beginning of the 15th century, was also reconstructed. Now the instrument is fully computerized, and the body is made in the style of Louis XVI.
• Today Notre-Dame de Paris is a functioning church: services are constantly held here, during which modern video effects are used. Every day at 8:00 and 19:00 you can hear the ringing of bells.
• Along with believers, tourists are also allowed into the cathedral. All visitors have a unique opportunity to explore sacred relics, as well as valuable things that have accumulated in the cathedral over its long history.

• (price: 37.00 €, 3 hours)
• (price: 50.00 €, 3 hours)
• (price: 17.00 €, 1 hour)

Attractions

Here you will find more detailed information about the cathedral objects. This information will be useful for general information.

Apse – Chevet

From the Quai de Tournelle you can see the apse with its supporting arches and gray-green vault. It is located in the eastern part, symbolizing the sunrise of the Resurrection.

Traditionally, the apse side serves to collect internal rhythmic flows and the highest divine energy of the cosmos.

Thanks to the special design, the impression of God’s presence among people is created. After the restoration of the cathedral, the arches were replaced according to the design of Jean Ravi. Today the size of the arches reaches 15 meters.

From the south side you can see what the cathedral looked like in the 19th century. Previously, there was an archbishop's palace here, which was demolished along with the treasury and sacristy during the riots of 1831. They decided not to restore the palace.

Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher - Chapelle des Chevaliers du Saint-Sépulcre

At the heart of the cathedral is the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, which was officially opened on March 6, 2009. The ceremony was led by Monsignor Tual, Patriarch of Latin from Jerusalem. The restoration of the chapel took place in accordance with the wishes of Cardinal Lustige and his successor, Cardinal Ven-Troyes.

Within these walls, in a modern red glass reliquary, lies the most precious treasure - the crown of thorns of Christ, wrapped in a purple robe. The sacred crown is a bundle of woven thorny branches without thorns, which in ancient times were taken to various temples and monasteries, with additionally woven into it several branches of the aromatic jujube plant.

It is enclosed in a crystal ring with a gold frame. It is impossible to say with certainty that the crown of Christ is genuine, but the first mentions of it are documented in the 4th century.

Most of the time, the holy crown is kept in a special storage room and is not displayed. For the worship of believers, it is solemnly taken out every Friday during Lent and on Good Friday. The Knights of the Holy Sepulcher take part in the ceremony.

Behind the reliquary on the altar is a statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, who holds in her hands the nails and crown that wounded the feet, hands and head of her son.

Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament - Chapelle du Saint-Sacrement

Next to the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, in the axis of the nave, there is another unusual chapel. It is called the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and is dedicated to the mother of Jesus Christ, which is often found in churches from Michelangelo's era.

Its construction began in 1296 on the initiative of the Bishop of Paris, Simon Mathias de Boucher. This chapel is also known as Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. It serves for meditation and sacred prayers of the sacred sacrament.

On the right wall you can see an ancient fresco from the 14th century, which depicts a girl receiving her soul in the presence of Saint Denis and Saint Nicaise, the patron saint of the chapel.

On the altar of the chapel, crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Gifts, that is, the bread that has become the body of Christ, are displayed throughout the day, symbolizing the presence of God himself. Adoration or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is widespread in the traditions of the Catholic Church. People come here alone or in groups in order to silently contemplate God, just be in front of him, mentally talk to him in peace and quiet, detached from the everyday bustle.

Pietà

In the depths of the temple, in the most prominent place of the central nave, there is an altar. Behind it, at a short distance, appears the famous “Pieta” - a sculptural composition created by Nicolas Coustou. At its foot there is a carved plinth made by Francois Girardon.

In the center is the Virgin Mary holding her dead son, who has just been taken down from the cross. The Mother of God’s gaze is turned not to the lifeless body of Jesus, but to heaven. Her face expresses sorrow and, at the same time, hope for the resurrection of Christ, promised to her from above. On either side of the Virgin Mary are statues of two monarchs: the right one is Louis XIII (sculptor Nicolas Coustou) and the left one is Louis XIV (sculptor Antoine Coyzevox).

At the same time, King Louis XIII seemed to offer the mother of Christ his crown and scepter, and his son Louis XIV bowed in prayer. This unusual ensemble is surrounded by six bronze angels holding in their hands the symbols of the Passion of Christ: a crown of thorns, nails, a sponge with vinegar, a scourge, a pike and the sign INRI (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).

The background to the appearance of the statues also deserves attention. Passionately wishing for the long-awaited birth of his future heir, Louis XIII vowed to embellish the altar and the Pietà if God would send him a son. His dream came true in 1638 with the birth of Louis XIV, but 5 years later the king died without fully fulfilling his promise. His successor managed to implement his father’s will only 60 years later, when, as a result of large-scale reconstruction, the Gothic style was replaced by Baroque.

Outpatient clinic – Déambulatoire

In church terminology, the “ambulatory” is the semicircular circumambulation along the altar apse, which is the end of the central nave. It looks like a continuation of the side naves, smoothly turning into each other.

In Notre Dame Cathedral, the double ambulatory is divided by a colonnade and has access to the outer apse chapels (chapels). There are five of them in total, and they radiate around the altar ledge, forming a “crown of chapels”. All of them are dedicated to different saints and are decorated with beautiful sculptures and stained glass windows, which are real works of art. They also contain mausoleums, tombs and funerary monuments of many prominent religious figures and other famous personalities. For example, near the eastern wall of the initial apse chapel dedicated to Saint Guillaume (William), there is a mausoleum of Count Henri Claude d'Harcourt (1704-1769), who served as a lieutenant general in the royal army. The sculptural composition depicts the late count, who, having heard the cry of his kneeling wife at his coffin, rises and, freed from the shroud, stretches out his hands to his devoted wife.

But behind the back of the deceased stands Death himself with an hourglass in his hand, showing the Countess that her time has come. The entire image of the Countess expresses a passionate desire to immediately reunite with her beloved husband.

This architectural ensemble was built at the end of the 13th – beginning of the 14th centuries. During a full-scale restoration led in the 19th century by the famous Parisian architect Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, the entire ambulatory was decorated using original wall paintings, recreated with amazing historical accuracy. That is why there is an unusually inspired and enthusiastic atmosphere here.

Altar – Choeur

In the middle of the central nave there is an unusual medieval altar. On either side of it are carved scenes imprinted in stone, called the altar barrier. It appeared in the cathedral in the 14th century, when a master, presumably Jean Ravi, carved an elegant partition from stone that isolated the choir from the nave. The barrier consistently depicts scenes from the Gospel in sculptural execution. All paintings are made in polychrome tones. IN mid-19th century, restoration work was also carried out here under the leadership of Viollet-le-Duc, and then the color scheme was updated.

Behind the altar, on a considerable elevation, are long lancet windows lined with 19th-century stained glass, replacing the original lost 13th-century mosaics.

The reconstruction of the choirs was conceived under Louis XIII, as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, who gave France the long-awaited heir to Louis XIV in 1638. Since this period, every year on August 15th on the Assumption - the main church holiday dedicated to Mary - a procession of the cross solemnly floats through the streets of Paris, as a reminder of the “royal vow”. Five years after the birth of his son, Louis XIII, on his deathbed, bequeathed to his successor to complete all renovations of the altar.

Restoration work was completed in 1723. It took three quarters of a century. The upper rows were then crowned with wooden sculptures that depicted scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

Northern part of the barrier – Clôture du choeur nord

The altar barrier, created at the end of the 13th century, covers 14 scenes from the Bible, visually telling about the birth and life of Jesus Christ, with the exception of the tragic events that happened after the Last Supper - the imprisonment, trial, scourging and crucifixion of Christ. Biblical scenes are depicted sequentially.

The storyline begins with the immaculate Virgin Mary meeting the righteous Elizabeth, then the Nativity of Christ follows and the good news to the shepherds, the wise men present their gifts. Next, the killing of infants and flight to Egypt is depicted.

Scenes from the life of Christ were selected, such as the meeting of the baby Jesus with the wise old man Simeon in the temple of Jerusalem, the story of how the young Jesus was in the temple among the wise men and among the teachers of the Jews, the Baptism and the wedding in Cana of Galilee. The final episodes are the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples' feet in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Three masters worked on these sculptural compositions for half a century - Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravi and Jean Le Bouteiler. Most of the scenes have a reliable time sequence, verified according to the four Gospels. The color scheme of the altar screen was updated during the restoration of the 19th century.

Southern part of the barrier – Clôture du choeur sud

The altar barrier dates back to the beginning of the 14th century. It is composed of nine biblical scenes describing the appearances of Jesus Christ after the Resurrection from the dead. Each biblical story on the south side is clearly separated from the next one by a vertical line.

• Meeting of Christ and Mary Magdalene.
• The appearance of Christ to the myrrh-bearing women.
• Meeting of Christ with the apostles John and Peter.
• Meeting of Christ with his disciples on the road to Emmaus.
• The appearance of Christ to the eleven apostles at the evening.
• The appearance of Christ to the Apostle Thomas.

• Meeting of Christ with his disciples on Lake Tiberias.
• The appearance of Christ to the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee.
• The meeting of Christ with the apostles in Jerusalem is the last phenomenon that ended with the ascension of Christ into heaven.

From 1300 to 1350, Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravi and Jean Le Bouteiler worked on the creation of this unique sculptural group. The color scheme was subsequently updated by the restorers of Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

Treasury - Trésor

The temple treasury is located in a small building - an annex. There is an interesting collection of ancient gold and silver items, church utensils, priests' clothes, ancient manuscripts and other sacred relics from the 13th to the 21st centuries. But of particular value are the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ and the Palatine Cross-reliquary, where a nail is kept under glass in the lower part, and seven particles of the Life-giving Cross are kept in the upper part. A golden tablet in Greek states that these relics originally belonged to the 12th-century Byzantine emperor Michael Comnenus.

Some treasures are brought out for display to the public on the first Friday of each month, every Friday of Lent and Holy Week.

The collection of relics from Notre Dame Cathedral began to be collected from its very inception, and by the end of the 18th century the temple treasury was considered one of the most magnificent in Europe. During the French Revolution, some of the treasures were looted, but with the dawn of the Concordat, the collection was again restored and replenished with relics from the Sainte-Chapelle treasury.

IN Once again The vault was damaged during the riots of 1830 and 1831, and was restored in the middle of the 19th century according to the design of Viollet-le-Duc. But, despite all the difficulties, the treasury retained its original purpose for storing valuable items used in the liturgy.

Red door – Porte Rouge

This modest doorway on the north side of the choir is called the "Red Door", thanks to bright color their doors. It was erected under the direction of the architect Pierre de Montreuil in the second half of the 13th century and was used as a direct passage between the monastery and the cathedral. The red door connected the monastery, where the canons and choristers lived, with Notre Dame de Paris. In 2012, these gates were restored at the initiative of the Society for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of Ile-de-France.

On the tympanum above the door there is a scene of Christ blessing the Virgin Mary, while an angel places the royal crown on her head. The upper part depicts Saint-Marcel, Bishop of Paris in the 5th century. His remains are considered one of the most precious relics of the cathedral and rest on top of the cathedral choir in full view of all parishioners.

On the left side above the doorway there is a sculptural panel depicting how the bishop conducts the ceremony of baptism and holy communion - two of the most important sacraments for Christians of all denominations. On the right side, he sits in the pulpit, preaching. His face expresses spiritual triumph over the devil.

Statue of Notre Dame of Paris – Vierge à l’Enfant “Notre Dame de Paris”

At the southeast pillar of the transept or cross nave, to the right of the high altar, can be seen a statue of the Virgin Mary holding a child in her arms. She is called Notre Dame of Paris. The statue was brought in the 19th century from the Saint-Aignan chapel on the Ile de la Cité.

This is the most famous and revered sculpture of the Virgin Mary of the 27 similar statues presented in Notre Dame. The period of its creation dates back to the 14th century. Installed in 1855 in place of the ancient sculpture of the miraculous Black Virgin, who disappeared without a trace during the revolution.

A bluish light emanates from the sculpture, and a large number of white lilies with which the Virgin Mary is decorated exude an amazing aroma. All this is arranged as a sign of deepest worship.

Transept

In church architecture, a “transept” is a transverse nave in churches built in the shape of a cross or basilica, which intersects the central longitudinal nave at a right angle. The extreme boundaries of the transept form apses that extend beyond the main part of the building; the transept protrudes by 2 meters. They coincide in height with the main nave, but the transept differs in that it consists of four tiers.

The transept was built by 1258. Important landmarks here include the south and north stained glass rose windows, the statue of Our Lady and Child, St. Stephen's Portal, the Red Gate Portal, and the main altar. In one of the branches of the transept you can admire two female figures of the patron saints of France - St. Joan of Arc and St. Therese, the patroness of the baby Jesus, as well as a statue of St. Dionysius by Nicolas Coustou. Many statues were recreated already in the 19th century.

Near the statue of the Virgin Mary there is a sign that informs that the famous trial that acquitted Joan of Arc took place in this cathedral. A small bronze plate in the floor informs that the famous poet Paul Claudel converted to the Catholic faith here in 1886.

South rose window – Rose sud

On the south facade of the transept there is a huge stained glass window in the shape of a rose, the diameter of which is 13 meters. It was originally installed back in the 13th century. Some of the stained glass has survived to this day in its original form, the remaining parts were replaced during restoration work carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The rosette itself consists of 84 stained glass fragments, which are laid out in the shape of four circles: 24 medallions, 12 medallions, 4-lobe and 3-lobe panels. It is known that during the reconstruction, which took place in the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc turned the southern rosette by 15 degrees in order to secure it on a strong vertical axis. For this reason, many fragments are not in their original places, and now it is not easy to determine which area of ​​the window was originally occupied by this or that scene.

The stained glass rose depicts Jesus Christ surrounded by the apostles and other saints, martyrs and wise virgins revered in France.

In the fourth circle, twenty angels are drawn on different fragments holding wreaths, candles and censers in their hands, and events from the New and Old Testaments are also depicted.

The third circle invites us to get acquainted with nine scenes from the life of St. Matthew, which date back to the last quarter of the 12th century and are perfectly preserved to this day.

In the central medallion, the original stained glass fragment was not preserved, so Viollet-le-Duc replaced it with an image of the second coming of Christ: a sword was placed in the mouth of the Savior, symbolizing the Word of God, which is intended to separate truth from lies. At the feet of Christ lies the Book of Life, and around him are the symbols of the four evangelists: angel, eagle, lion, calf.

The two lower corner elements tell the story of the descent into Hell and the resurrection of Christ.

The rose rests on a peculiar belt of 16 lancet stained glass windows, together with which the total height of the stained glass window reaches 19 meters. These narrow plates depict prophets. It was created in 1861 by the artist Alfred Gerent under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc.

Portal of Saint Stephen - Portail Saint-Etienne

On the south side of the transept, facing the embankment of the Seine River towards the Latin Quarter, there is a portal that was consecrated in the name of the martyr Saint Stephen. It was built in the 13th century by architects Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil. In the past, this passage led to the residence of the bishop, successor of the holy martyr Denis.

The main decoration of the portal is the tympanum, on which episodes from the life and martyrdom of St. Stephen are depicted in stone, as well as scenes from the life of students at the University of Paris. Saint Stephen was the patron of the first Paris cathedral.

Looking at the sculptural composition from right to left and up, you can see how Saint Stephen preached before the Jewish authorities and people, and subsequently stood trial, was stoned, buried and blessed by Christ. Noteworthy is the scene in which two clergymen carry a prayer book and blessed water after the traditional service. This serves as proof that the same holy traditions have been followed over time.

North rose window – Rose nord

On the left side of the main altar on the northern facade of the transept there is a stained glass rose window of amazing beauty. It can be called a true masterpiece of High Gothic of the 13th century. Unlike the southern rosette, this stained glass window has been preserved almost untouched, since 85% of the mosaic is an original work of art by medieval masters.

The northern rose window is located at a height of 21 meters, its diameter is 13 meters. The subject composition depicts the Virgin and Child surrounded by characters from the Old Testament. In the central part of the stained glass rosette the Virgin Mary is placed with the newborn Jesus in her arms, and around her there are medallions with images of judges, prophets, kings and high priests.

The predominance of lilac and violet shades in the color palette of the mosaic elements symbolizes the long, anxious night awaiting the birth of the Messiah.

The composition of the northern rosette is in a kind of movement: fragments of stained glass are not located along strict vertical and horizontal lines, thereby creating the image of a rotating wheel. Illuminated by the sun's rays, the rose window of the north transept colors bright colors the dark walls of the nave, filling the interior of the temple with divine light.

Portal of the Red Gate - Portail du Cloître

The portal on the north side of the transept is called the “Red Gate”. Previously, it served as a passage to the monastery, located next to Notre Dame Cathedral.

The central pillar of the portal depicts the Virgin Mother, an authentic statue from the 13th century. It was here originally from the moment of its creation, but the baby, unfortunately, was destroyed. Reminiscent of the famous 14th-century statue of Our Lady of Paris installed inside the cathedral, the Virgin of the Portal is still more regal and majestic.

On the tympanum above the gate there is a sculptural scene of the coronation of Mary in the presence of King Louis IX the Saint and Queen Margaret of Provence. Just above are scenes from the childhood of Jesus Christ: the Nativity, his appearance in the temple, the killing of infants and the flight to Egypt.

The archivolts show episodes of miracles that happened to Saints Theophilus and Marcel. In one of the scenes, Saint Marcel extracts the devil in the form of a dragon from the body of a deceased sinner. The other shows Mary's divine power contained in her savior son. An impressive story is how Theophilus, having sold his soul to the devil in order to secure his place as the bishop's successor, subsequently repented and began to pray to the Virgin. And she broke this agreement, saving Theophilus from the devil’s embrace. At the very top above the portal is a bishop telling a story for the edification of believers.

Separate parts of the original statues that adorned these gates - figures of the Magi and Virtues - are exhibited in the Cluny Museum.

Main altar – Autel principal

At the entrance to the choir there is a raised liturgical platform with a modern bronze altar placed on it by the French sculptors Jean and Sebastian Toure. Its consecration took place in 1989.

Following the model of the Cathedral in Chartres, on the sides of the main altar there are figures of four biblical prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

The four evangelists are depicted in front - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. According to the creators, this sculptural group symbolizes the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Since the Second Vatican Council, Mass has been celebrated near the entrance to the choir, with the priest facing the congregation, as the Pope always did in St. Peter's Church in Rome.

Side naves - Bas-cotés

Notre Dame Cathedral, in an architectural sense, is a basilica with galleries and double side naves, which are divided in half by longitudinal rows of giant columns. These additional rows of pillars transform the three-nave basilica into a five-nave one. This feature makes the cathedral a much more valuable architectural monument. In the Middle Ages, Gothic cathedrals with double side naves were not often built; tapestries were simply hung in the openings of the arcades.

On each side of the naves there are seven chapels, running from the fourth to the tenth bay. These chapels contain paintings and sculptures on religious themes that were created to order the best masters France. They are presented to the cathedral every year on the first day of May, following a centuries-old tradition associated with Parisian jewelers. And in one of the chapels you can see a historical model that clearly demonstrates the progress of construction of Notre Dame Cathedral.

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The central nave is an elongated room of ten bays, bounded on both longitudinal sides by a number of columns separating it from the side naves. The vaults of the nave rise to a height of 33 meters, and its width is 12 meters.

The nave of Notre Dame Cathedral has three levels in height:

• In the lower tier there are round, polished columns with capitals in the form of elaborate wreaths made of acanthus leaves.
• The second tier contains arched openings separated from each other by thin columns.
• On both sides of the third tier there are rows of elongated lancet windows necessary for the penetration of daylight.

Thanks to this, the ceiling, built in the form of a six-lobed stone vault, is clearly visible.

The interior space of the nave appears much larger than in an ordinary parish church. The creators of the cathedral, thereby, tried to recreate the image of heavenly Jerusalem, which is described in detail in the Bible. Architectural elements of the Gothic style add sophistication and grace to the interior, creating a feeling of touching the heavens, which was not always inherent romanesque architecture of an earlier period.

On both sides of the nave in the choir there are carved wooden benches from the early 18th century, which depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. They were made specifically as a tribute, in honor of the royal vow of Louis XIII.

A large number of parishioners gather here for services every day. A mysterious twilight reigns inside the cathedral. During the large-scale restoration, for better lighting, new windows were additionally made in the side walls of the nave.

Grand Organ - Grand orgue

Under the west rose window is the famous organ of Notre Dame Cathedral. It is not only the largest organ in France, but also one of the largest musical instruments in the whole world. Today the organ consists of 109 registers and about 7800 pipes.

The first organ was installed in the cathedral in 1402. A new building in the Gothic style was specially designed for it. Since this instrument could not completely fill the entire vast space of the cathedral, in 1730 François-Henri Clicquot completed its construction. At the same time, the organ acquired its current body in the Louis XVI style. In the 1860s, the famous French organ builder of the 19th century, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, carried out a complete reconstruction of it, and the baroque instrument received an unusual romantic sound. Subsequently, the large organ underwent various reconstructions and replacements several more times, but in 1992, the control of the instrument was computerized, and a fiber-optic cable was installed to it.

Many famous names have accompanied this organ for centuries, among them Perotina, the inventor of polyphonic music in the 13th century, Campra, Daquin, Armand-Louis Couperin, Cesar Frank, Camille Saint-Saëns, and more recently Louis Vierna and Pierre Cochereau. The position of titular organist of Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the most prestigious in France.

You can listen to the sound of the large organ completely free of charge every week during Sunday mass.

West rose window – Rose ouest

The West Rose Window is the central stained glass window in Notre Dame de Paris. It was created in 1220 and is the oldest rosette in the cathedral. The stained glass rose appears huge, but its diameter is only 9.6 meters, making this mosaic the smallest of the cathedral's three rosettes.

Situated harmoniously in the center of the western façade, it consists of three circles around a central medallion depicting the Mother of God and the baby Jesus. In the first belt from the center there are twelve “small” prophets, followed by 12 agricultural works according to the seasons, which correspond to the 12 signs of the zodiac.

In the upper circle on the medallions it is shown how the twelve virtues in the form of warriors armed with spears oppose the twelve vices.

To this day, most of the original fragments of the mosaic of the western window have not survived, and the stained glass window itself was almost completely changed by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. It is also impossible to fully examine the rosette on the window, since it is partially covered by a large organ.

Western Façade – Façade occidentale

The construction of this facade began under Bishop Ed de Sully in 1200, the third architect who worked on the construction of the cathedral. This work was continued by his successors, in particular Guillaume d’Auvergne, and after 1220 the construction was continued by the fourth architect. The North Tower was completed in 1240 and the South Tower in 1250.

The western facade is the embodiment of grandeur, simplicity and harmony. Its strength and power is based on the relationship between vertical and horizontal lines. Four powerful buttresses rush to the tops of the towers, raising them to the heavens. Their symbolic meaning is that this temple is dedicated to God. And two wide horizontal stripes seem to return the building back to our mortal earth, being proof that this Cathedral belongs to people too.

The dimensions of the western façade are also impressive: 41 meters wide, 43 meters to the base of the towers, 63 meters to the top of the towers.

In the center, next to the Gallery of the Virgin, there is a large rose with a diameter of 9.6 meters, created in 1225, which forms a halo above the head of the statue of the Virgin and Child, which is flanked by two angels. On both sides of the stone rose are statues of Adam and Eve, which remind us of original sin. They were placed here on the initiative of Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

Below the balustrade is a wide horizontal frieze called the Gallery of the Kings. Here are 28 figures of Jewish kings, the ancestors of Christ. The height of each figure is more than three meters. This sculptural composition indicates that Mary was mortal woman, a representative of the human race, and gave birth to Jesus, who was both man and God. During the revolution of 1793, the stone figures were beheaded, so 19th-century restorers had to restore them. Most of the original surviving heads of the kings are now on display in the medieval museum of Cluny.

At the lower level of the facade there are three large portals, which differ significantly from each other. The central portal is known as the Portal of the Last Judgment, and is taller and wider than the others. To the right of it is the Portal of St. Anne, and to the left is the Portal of the Holy Virgin. The gate leaves are decorated with an amazing wrought iron pattern, and the façade of the portals is decorated with images of many characters. There are 4 statues on the buttresses: on the south side - the figure of the deacon of St. Stephen, on the north side - the Bishop of Saint-Denis, and on the sides of the central portal there are two allegories depicted - a synagogue and a church.

Portal Sainte-Anne

The south aisle on the right side of the west facade is called the Portal of St. Anne, she was the mother of the Virgin Mary. It refers to XIII century and is the earliest among other portals.

On the tympanum, in its upper part, the Madonna Maesta is depicted, seated on a throne under a canopy. On different sides of her were angels and the builders of the temple - Bishop Maurice de Sully and the kneeling King Louis VII. These statues were created for the Church of St. Mary, which was previously located on the site of the cathedral, and then they were moved to the portal. The lower part of the tympanum depicts scenes from the lives of Joachim and Anna.

On the central pillar of the portal between the doors is a statue of Saint Marcel, bishop of Paris in the 5th century. Saint Marcel was the predecessor of Saint Genevieve. These two figures were very revered among the faithful Parisians before the revolution. They became famous for their courageous, inventive and effective work aimed at charity. Moreover, like all true fighters for justice, they were highly spiritual individuals who sacredly observed all sacraments and prayers.

Portal of the Last Judgment - Portail du Jugement

This portal was built in 1220–1230. It is located in the center of the western facade, striking with its magnificent sculptural design. The Last Judgment is presented here as it is described in the Gospel of Matthew.

In the center of the tympanum is Christ seated on a throne in glory, on both sides of him are angels with instruments of the Passion and kneeling figures of John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, who pray for sinners. Under the figure of Christ is depicted the heavenly city - New Jerusalem. To his right are figures of the righteous, headed by the Archangel Michael with scales for human souls in his hands. On the other side, devils take sinners to Hell. At the very bottom of the tympanum the scene of the Resurrection is shown.

The archivolts depict various saints, women and men, who make up the hierarchy of the Heavenly Powers. On the side pilasters near the gates themselves there are figures of virgins, five on each side, personifying the “Parable of the Ten Virgins.”

On the pilaster dividing the portal into two gate leaves, there is another statue of Christ. He is surrounded by twelve apostles, six on each side. At their base, on the base of the portal, virtues and vices are represented in small medallions.

Many of the statues that adorned the Portal of the Last Judgment were destroyed during the revolution and were subsequently recreated by Viollet-le-Duc, who returned the western façade to its original appearance.

Portal of the Holy Virgin – Portail de la Vierge

The northern portal on the left side of the western facade of Notre Dame Cathedral is called the Portal of the Holy Virgin. It is decorated with statues from the 12th – 13th centuries.

On the central pilaster there is a figure of the Madonna and Child. The tympanum depicts scenes of the Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin Mary.
On one of the sculptural compositions you can see how the completion of Mary’s life on earth took place. The term "dormition" in the Christian dictionary means death. The dead will fall asleep, but on the Last Day Christ will awaken them for the general resurrection, just as the Lord raised him on Easter morning. Symbolizing the connection with the Old Testament, twelve apostles were located at Mary’s deathbed, who laid the Ark of the Covenant, where the tablets of the Covenant are located, which serve as a prototype of the Holy Virgin, in whom the word became flesh.

Another storyline depicts the coronation scene of the Virgin after her resurrection into heaven. She sits solemnly on the royal throne, and her son Jesus blesses her while an angel places a crown on Mary's head.

Allegorical figures of the twelve months are placed on the side pilasters, and various saints and angels are located on the archivolts.

Legends of Notre Dame Cathedral

For many, Notre Dame is a universal reference book of esotericism. And it is not surprising that the majestic structure, which has a centuries-old history, is wrapped in countless legends, like a shroud.

Legend of the Blacksmith

Legends of the famous cathedral greet Parisians and thousands of tourists right at the gates. The expression “sell your soul to the devil” is used not figuratively, but literally words when it comes to the master who forged the gates for the cathedral.

Thousands of years later, people admire with joyful admiration the magic of the intricate patterns on the gates. I can’t believe that man could create such perfect, incomprehensible beauty.

At the beginning of the 2nd millennium, Bishop Maurice de Sully conceived the idea of ​​​​building a grandiose cathedral, which was supposed to outshine everything that had existed before in beauty and grandeur.

The future cathedral was assigned an honorable role: to become the spiritual stronghold of the nation and accommodate the population of the entire city. The blacksmith was entrusted with an important mission - to create a gate that would match the beauty and craftsmanship of the greatness of the building being erected.

Birskone fell into anxious doubts. The task that stood before him seemed so important to him, and his own skill was so insufficient, that he called upon supernatural forces to help.

It was not even clear how the master managed to create this masterpiece: whether he used forging or casting to create such complex openwork patterns. But the master himself could not answer anything.

When he came to, he was gloomy, thoughtful and taciturn. When the gates were installed and the locks were secured on them, it turned out that no one, including the blacksmith, could open them. Suspecting something was wrong, the castles were sprinkled with holy water, and only after that the gates were allowed into the temple by amazed servants.

The brilliant master himself soon became speechless and quickly went to his grave. They never had time to extract the secret of creating the gate from him. Some logically assumed that the master simply did not want to reveal the secrets of his professional skills.
But rumors and legends reported that there was a deal with the devil. This is exactly the kind of deal the blacksmith was forced to make: to sell his soul in exchange for talent.

Be that as it may, the incomprehensible beauty of the main gate of the temple may indeed raise doubts that they were created without any intervention from extraterrestrial forces.

The Legend of the Nails of the Holy Cross

Of the four nails of the cross that were used during the crucifixion of Christ, two are kept in France. One of the nails is located in Notre Dame itself. The other is in the Church of St. Siffredios, which is located in the city of Carpentras. All sorts of miracles are attributed to this nail.

The miraculous nail was found in Jerusalem by the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine and transported to Rome. Helen, the mother of the emperor, is not in vain revered by Orthodox Christians around the world: she saved and preserved many holy relics associated with the life and death of Jesus and the Mother of God. In particular, with her help, the cross was found on which the Lord was executed.

Believing in the miraculous power of the nail of the cross, Elena ordered a bit to be made from it for her son’s horse. She believed that the power contained in the nail would protect the emperor on the battlefields. In 313, Constantine, having defeated Lucinius, put an end to the persecution of Christians and himself converted to Christianity.

Centuries later, the bit ended up in the Carpentras Cathedral. The nail from this cathedral was a mystical symbol and amulet of the city during the plague.

The sick and crippled were healed by touching it; the nail helped drive out demons from the possessed. The Vatican has officially recognized cases of medically inexplicable miraculous healings.

The nail, despite its centuries-old age, does not oxidize or rust. Even attempts to gild it came to nothing: the gilding came off the nail.

All these miracles, however, do not apply to the nail kept in Notre Dame. This nail has long been covered with rust. However, the authenticity of the French relic from Carpentras is still disputed by the Roman Church.

Legend of the Knights

After the destruction of the 1st Temple of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the trace of the most revered relic by the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant, was lost. The Ark of the Covenant was shaped like a chest and was made of pure gold. It allegedly contained divine revelations that shed light on the laws of the universe.

Among other things, the casket contained the secret of the “golden ratio”. The “golden number” 1.618 in proportion to 1 was ideal for the construction of architectural structures, when creating sculptures and paintings. The “Golden Number” was the key that unlocked the divine secret of the harmony of all things.

According to some versions, the Order of the Knights Templar was considered involved in the discovery of the golden casket. When the first French Templars went to the East to protect pilgrims going to the Holy Land, they did not limit themselves to this task.

Their mission also included searching for the treasured casket. The rumor that the casket was either found by them, or given to the Templars by the secret guardians of the relic, spread throughout France.

In any case, after their return to their homeland, the construction of Chartres Cathedral began. It was destined to become the most majestic and mysterious cathedral in the world.

The altar - the “holy place” is located between the second and third columns of the cathedral. If you count 37 meters down from this place, you can find the ancient well of the Druids (lowest point). And at the same distance from the altar is the highest point of the cathedral - the spire of the main column.

This place with points located symmetrically at equal distances from the main shrine has some kind of magical power. Those who have been there will have indelible impressions. It seems that the cathedral transmits double energy to a person.

The energy of the Earth rises from the lowest point of the temple. The energy of heaven descends from above. A person receives such a portion of concentrated pure energy that he is instantly transformed, both physically and spiritually.

The Legend of the Symbol of Heaven

For a medieval resident, everything he saw was just a reflection higher world, invisible to the human eye. Therefore, all the architecture of the Middle Ages was encrypted in symbols. It is not easy to unravel all this symbolism of geometry, symmetry, mathematics, astrological symbols hidden in the architecture of Notre Dame.

Its central round stained glass window (rosette) depicts the zodiac signs and zodiac symbols are carved in stone next to the figure of the Virgin Mary. This composition is interpreted as a symbol of the annual zodiac cycle.

But the zodiac cycle begins with the sign of Taurus, while on the stained glass it begins with the sign of Pisces. And this corresponds not to Western, but to Hindu astrology.

Venus corresponds to the sign of Pisces, based on Greek traditions. But the fish was also a symbol of Jesus Christ. The Greek word "ichthus" (fish) contained in its first letters the phrase: "Jesus Christ, son of God."

A gallery of 28 kings of Judah reproduces the lunar cycle. But - again the riddle of Notre Dame: there were only 18 kings, whereas the lunar cycle consists of 28 days.

Legend of the Bell

The bells on the towers of the cathedral have their own names and voices. The oldest of them is named Belle. And the largest one, Emmanuel, weighs 13 tons.
All bells, except the last one, ring daily in the morning and evening. Emmanuel, due to its gravity, is not so easy to swing. Therefore, it is used only on the most solemn occasions.

But, if you believe the legends, the cathedral once served as a haven for a man who could single-handedly rock this gigantic structure. His name was Quasimodo, he was the bell ringer of Notre Dame.

There is also a beautiful legend relating to the creation of this bell. When at one time they wanted to cast it in bronze, Parisians in love with Notre Dame threw their gold and silver jewelry into the molten bronze. That is why the voice of the bell had no equal in beauty and purity of sound.

The Legend of the Philosopher's Stone

Esotericists consider Notre Dame to be a kind of body of occult knowledge. Various occult researchers have been trying to decipher the architecture and symbolism of the cathedral since the beginning of the 17th century.

They say that the famous architects of the cathedral were helped by ancient alchemists with their knowledge. And somewhere in the geometry of the building the secret of the philosopher's stone is encoded. Anyone who can unravel it in countless sculptural stucco moldings will be able to transform any other substance into gold.

And, if you are able to decipher the ancient teaching, which, according to followers of occultism, is encoded in the frescoes, then you can comprehend all the secrets of the universe and gain unlimited power over the world.

Tower ticket prices:

• Adult: 8,50 Euro
• Persons from 18-25 years old: 6,50 Euro

Entrance to the cathedral: for free

How to get there

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, Paris 75004
Telephone: +33 1 42 34 56 10
Website: notredamedeparis.fr‎
Metro: Cite
Working hours: 8:00 - 18:45

Ticket price

• Adult: 8.50 €
• Reduced: 6.50 €

Updated: 09/04/2019

One of the outstanding architectural monuments is Notre Dame Cathedral. Sung and celebrated by poets, writers and artists, this famous temple of peace stands proudly in the heart of Paris.

It is called not only the geographical center, but also the spiritual one. Construction began back in 1163 and was completed only in 1345. It took more than 180 years to create the unique and amazing Notre-Dame de Paris. This is the center of French life, where emperors were crowned, royals were crowned and funerals were held. Among other things, the place is notable for the fact that the first parliament of France met there, and the beggars and disadvantaged found temporary shelter in the Catholic church.

The novel that glorified the cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is shrouded in an aura of romance, shrouded in mystery and mysticism. This attracts millions of travelers to the temple every year. For tourists, Notre Dame de Paris looks more captivating than the famous Louvre. There is a popular expression: “See Paris and die.” Every person should visit the cathedral before they die.

The pearl of France will not leave anyone indifferent. But what is the reason for such incredible popularity? World fame was achieved thanks to the efforts of the talented master of the pen Victor Hugo, who created a novel that has no analogues - “Notre Dame Cathedral”. It was his fantasy and wild imagination that gave birth to extraordinary heroes. The reader plunged headlong into the book. He was excited by the vicissitudes of the fate of the charming Esmeralda, he sympathized with the unfortunate lot of Quasimodo and was surprised at the treachery of the intriguer Claude Frollo. Thanks to these names, the name of the cathedral is associated with a dramatic tale, this work has aroused the curiosity of people from all over the world. But all the characters are just the imagination of a gifted author.

Grand construction

The main builders of the Gothic “castle” were considered to be two talented architects - Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil; practically no information has been preserved about the other persons who had a hand in the construction. But the long years over which this construction stretched eloquently indicate that there were many participants.

Notre Dame Cathedral can accommodate nine thousand people at a time. In the Middle Ages, the construction of almost any city began with a church, and Paris was no exception to this rule. Modern archaeologists believe that there were four buildings on the site of the temple:

1. Paleo-Christian Church.
2. Merovingian Basilica of St. Stephen.
3. Carolingian Cathedral.
4. Romanesque Cathedral.

The last structure was mercilessly destroyed, and its stones served as the foundation for Notre-Dame de Paris. The original idea implied a grandiose construction; the premises of the temple should easily accommodate the entire population of the city, which at that time did not exceed ten thousand people. But construction was delayed and there were not enough financial resources. The population of the city tried to contribute, even the poor and girls of easy virtue brought money for the construction of the sacred temple. Despite the lively and active participation of residents in the fate of the temple, construction was delayed.

Notre Dame Cathedral style

The general impression from a visual inspection of the temple is very ambiguous. The fact is that the building does not have a single style, which, however, is not surprising if we remember that the leaders changed with enviable frequency. In the 12th century (the beginning of the construction of the cathedral), a peculiar Romanesque style prevailed, but it was gradually replaced by the Gothic style. Thus, the building is endowed with features of several styles, which explains its unique appearance:

1. Romanesque architecture is distinguished by massive outlines, the absence of any frills, narrow windows; elegance here loses ground, giving way to practicality, rationality, power and simplicity.
2. Gothic architecture is characterized by vertical compositions, pointed elements, and details directed upward.

Echoes of the Romanesque style of Normandy and innovative ideas of the Gothic style combined and gave a truly unexpected and interesting result. Notre-Dame de Paris is just that rare case when a mixture of styles was only beneficial and turned the building not into “kitsch”, but into one of the main decorations of a wonderful city.

Mysteries and legends associated with the cathedral

Fun Disneyland, freshly baked crispy croissants, gourmet cuisine and vintage wines - all this is Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the main assets of the country and the pride of the local population. But the temple has a huge number of secrets and mysteries that still excite minds.

Upon visual inspection, it is difficult to believe that this miracle was created by hands ordinary person. An ancient legend says that the devil himself took part in the construction. Moreover, he immortalized himself in the image of a chimera decorating the cathedral. And this is not the only legend associated with the temple.

Where does the cathedral begin? Of course, with luxurious wrought iron gates. It is known for certain that they were made by a most skilled craftsman named Biscornet. The blacksmith valued this responsible, honorable order so much and was afraid of disappointing his employers that he called upon him to help... Satan. And solely thanks to the efforts of the unclean, the whole world can receive aesthetic pleasure from contemplating unprecedented beauty, which the hands of a mere mortal cannot create. What gave impetus to the spread of this myth? When the gates were ready and the locks were cut into them, it turned out that the structure could not be opened by any force. Holy water came to the rescue. After the “devilish fence” was sprinkled with it, the iron gave way.

What tourists say

Notre Dame Cathedral is very tempting for all travelers. Reviews from people who have visited it are mostly enthusiastically positive. This place allows tourists to experience a colossal range of pleasant emotions. It’s hard to believe, but those who had the opportunity to visit this building claim that they felt the energy and strength emanating from it. It is possible that this is just self-hypnosis and the mood that the musical of the same name managed to inspire, but we can say for sure that the dark romance and incredible power of the Gothic cathedral will definitely not leave visitors indifferent.

First stone

The history of Notre Dame Cathedral is impressive. It began 850 years ago, but to this day a huge number of people wonder who laid the first stone of this grandiose structure. There are several theories about this, but it is, of course, impossible to say for sure, too much time has passed since then. There are two most popular candidates for this role - Pope Alexander III and Bishop Maurice de Sully. But it was the bishop who made the decision to build a new cathedral on the site of the old and dilapidated building. His plans were ambitious and vain; the cathedral was supposed to surpass everything that had been built before. We can say that the plans came to fruition. People began to perform the labor-intensive task. It is worth noting that at that time there was famine in the country, so there were opponents of the expensive construction. But, despite all the protests, work began. Among the most memorable and significant events that took place within the walls of the cathedral, one can note the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, which took place in the winter of 1804.

During the reign of Louis XIV, stained glass windows and tombs were mercilessly destroyed, and the complete destruction of the legendary temple was planned. The people were given an ultimatum: if a certain amount of money is not collected by the appointed hour, Notre-Dame de Paris will turn into ruins. It's amazing, but the Parisians complied with the conditions. Unfortunately, the national convention did not even think of keeping its word; the cathedral was badly damaged. Only in 1831, thanks to the efforts of Hugo, people began to show interest in the temple again and, as a result, restoration of the building began a year after the publication of the book.

Exterior of the Catholic Church

The description of the cathedral gives an idea of ​​the monumentality and scale of the building.

1. Length - 130 meters.
2. Height - 35 meters.
3. Width - 48 meters.
4. The height of the bell towers is 69 meters.

Moreover, the weight of the Emmanuel bell is as much as 13 tons, and its “tongue” is 500 kg.

Interior decoration and architecture A

Masterpiece French architecture can amaze. Notre Dame Cathedral is a prime example of this. An early Gothic monument (Notre Dame) helped transform the city. The façade of the building is divided vertically by pilasters. The main facade has three entrance doors, above which there is an arcade called the Gallery of Kings. On the inner field of the pediment are Christ and two angels. The central entrance has a rather symbolic decoration - the image of the Last Judgment.

The roof weight is more than 200 tons. The upper part is decorated with images of gargoyles and chimeras. There is no wall painting in this temple, and the source of color is the stained glass of the lancet windows. The rose above the very entrance to the cathedral has been preserved since the Middle Ages. The chandelier (chandelier) is made of bronze.

The first organ was installed in 1402, but its sound was not powerful enough for the huge area of ​​the cathedral, which is why the instrument was completed in 1730.

In front of the cathedral you can see the statue of Charlemagne, and behind the building is the Fountain of the Virgin.

So, we are in Paris! For us, the age-old dream of many Russians has come true: the cultural capital of the world, a collection of museums, monuments and parks - at the feet of our tour group. Where to start traveling around the city where you will never feel like a stranger?

– We will live in a hotel located in the tenth arrondissement. Where do you recommend going there? – a friend once asked me, who had arranged a Parisian vacation for himself and his beloved for the first time.

– Leave the hotel and go to the city center. At every step you will come across something that you have read about, heard about, or seen in the movies.

Where is the center of Paris? Of course, on the island of Cité (Île de la Cité, translated as an inhabited place), where, in fact, the first settlement of the Celtic tribe of Parisians was born, which later, half a century BC, turned into the Roman city of Lutetia. Well, the center of Cité is, of course, Notre-Dame de Paris.

Story. A ray of light from the dark Middle Ages

Christian churches, as a rule, were built on the site of “pagan temples.” In the case of Notre Dame, everything is even more interesting: first, the Roman Temple of Jupiter was built here, then an ancient Christian church, then the Basilica of St. Stephen, the very first Christian martyr, who died for the faith just two years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, after, during the reign of the Carolingians , - a cathedral, and in its place - a Romanesque cathedral. And already his stones formed the foundation of the cathedral in the name of Mother of God Parisian. Construction of the temple began in 1163 by order of King Louis VII of France, and ended almost two centuries later - in 1345.

Like all Gothic cathedrals, Notre Dame is easily recognizable by its rose stained glass window (pictured above), spire and two towers (one of which, according to the novel by François Rabelais, was used as a pulpit by the giant Gargantua). Above the three majestic portals (on the left is the portal of Our Lady, on the right - St. Anne, in the center - the portal of the Last Judgment) - they are in the photo below - there is a gallery with 28 statues of biblical kings. For many years, they watched from above the weddings of kings and queens, coronations and pompous funerals of monarchs, and in 1302, the very first meeting of the States General, as the Parliament of France was then called.

But in 1789, the Great French Revolution broke out and did not spare the monarchs - neither living nor stone: it was not enough to cut off the heads of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette - Robespierre also ordered the beheading of “stone kings decorating churches.” And 28 kings of the Jews were overthrown from the façade of Notre Dame, and the cathedral itself was declared the “Temple of Reason.”

Only in 1802, with Napoleon Bonaparte coming to power, the cathedral was returned to the church and reconsecrated. In the mid-19th century, Notre Dame was restored, including the Gallery of Kings. And in 1977, some of the statues were found under a residential building. During the turbulent revolutionary years, a certain Parisian bought them as stones for the foundation of his new house, but in fact simply hid them. But, apparently, he did not live to see the best times for the cathedral...

During the restoration, the cathedral not only received back what was lost. He even received something that he had never had before: around the new 96-meter oak spire, covered with lead, bronze statues of the four evangelists and their symbols appeared - Mark with a lion, Matthew with an angel, Luke with a calf, John with an eagle. In addition to the terrifying gargoyles that previously adorned the ends of the beams and drainpipes, chimeras appeared on the roof of the cathedral - half-human, half-animal, half-bird, half-beast.

French writers helped preserve Notre Dame as we see it today. Victor Hugo wrote his novel “Notre Dame Cathedral” with one goal - to protect the temple, the fate of which was only being decided at the end of the 1820s: some proposed radically modernizing it, while others proposed completely demolishing it. Hugo’s novel seemed to awaken all the French who were not indifferent to their own history and culture, and the cathedral was defended.

Later, when restoration began, another writer, Prosper Merimee, ensured that the stained glass windows of the cathedral’s huge windows were made of colored glass, as it was before, and not of white glass. Maybe that’s why there is always darkness inside the cathedral, and sometimes you can’t even see the vaults, but the feeling that you are in the Middle Ages is complete. But for some reason my soul feels so light.

How to get there

But before you get to the Middle Ages, you need to get to the Isle of Cite.

Even if I get a hotel a few kilometers from Notre Dame Cathedral, I still cannot deny myself the pleasure of walking to it - slowly, along old streets and green boulevards, past historical buildings and monuments, familiar from school French textbooks.

Of course, if you are in Paris for the first time or come with a group, you will have to get on the bus and ride “like everyone else.” But Paris doesn’t like those who like to be like everyone else, and therefore, looking out of the bus window, you won’t be able to get on familiar terms with the city. Well, okay, anything can happen: you are really afraid of getting lost on unfamiliar streets, or it’s just difficult for you to walk for a long time.

There is a tricky intermediate option - the metro: you either walk or drive. Cite, Notre-Dame is also the nerve center of the Paris metro. Five metro lines converge here, which means you can easily come here from any district of Paris. On the island itself there is a station waiting for you, naturally, "Cité", on the left bank of the Seine - "Saint-Michel", it is in the picture below), "Cluny - La Sorbonne" - La Sorbonne"), "Maubert - Mutualité", on the right - "Pont Marie", "Hotel de Ville" and, of course, the largest Interchange station "Châtelet".

If you decide to travel by metro on your own, without a French-speaking guide, and without knowing the language, let me remind you: in all French words, the stress is always placed on the last syllable. If you buy a ticket not from a machine, but from a cashier, or, what’s more, you get lost “in the passages of underground stations,” you will need to tell where you are going. This is where, when pronouncing the name of the station, do not forget about the emphasis, otherwise they simply will not understand you.

Can I come in?

We've arrived. Or did they come? Doesn't matter. The main thing is that we are standing near the stunning, majestic Notre Dame Cathedral. Of course, first you want to admire its architectural delights from the outside, and only then plunge into the darkness of almost a thousand years of history.

Enjoy your health, just get in line first. Or two: one to the cathedral itself, and the other to the roof. Entrance to Notre Dame itself without a guide is free, but they don’t let you go up for free. To go up to the roof with a guide costs 15 euros for the right to admire the views of Paris for an hour and a half, without a guide - 8.5 euros for 45 minutes. Groups – 2 euro discount per person (that is, with a discount it comes out to 6.5 per capita), Children and teenagers under 18 years old are free if they are with their parents. Every first Sunday of the month from November to March there is no charge for entry to the top. The line of people wishing to get into the cathedral rests on the right portal (St. Anne), and those eager to soar above the bustle of Paris line up along the left wall of North Dame.

Leave a friend in the queue and go for a walk and admire it. Just don’t forget to change your guard - sometimes you have to wait an hour and a half for a happy moment at the entrance to the cathedral, and even two at the exit to the roof. Of course, you can pretend that you are disabled and ask your friends to take your arms so that all three of you can skip the line, or with a folder under your arm, play the role of an ever-hurrying official of the French Ministry of Culture, or even pretend to be a resident exotic country who does not understand any language other than his native one - and go ahead! But they can expose you. Although the second option worked for me once...

We must immediately tell the conquerors of the heights of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris: it is worth thinking in advance whether you can withstand the climb of 422 steps along a narrow spiral staircase, on which there is no way back, because it is blocked by people just as desperately brave as you. And one more thing: there are no elevators or toilets here – it’s a temple, after all.

The cathedral is open daily: from October 1 to March 31 - from 10.00 to 17.30, from April 1 to September 30 - from 10.00 to 18.30. In July and August, on Fridays and Saturdays, Notre Dame is open until 23.00. But on any day, visitors are stopped 45 minutes before closing, and if there is a large influx of people, this time can be increased. IN bad weather You may not be allowed on the roof for your own safety. On holidays - January 1, May 1 and December 25 - the cathedral is closed.

Why Paris is worth a mass

There’s probably no point in telling you exactly what you’ll see inside and above. You have to look at this with your own eyes, only then will you understand the meaning of King Henry IV’s phrase “Paris is worth a mass.” Henri knew what he was talking about when he converted from Protestant to Catholic to take the French throne.

Speaking of mass. One day, my friend and I happened to be in Notre Dame during a service. In a leaflet-program found at the entrance to the cathedral, we read that today the Mass is being celebrated not by anyone, but by the Archbishop of Paris Cardinal Lustige himself (now, alas, deceased). Wearing a tiara and white vestments, accompanied by an altar boy with a censer, he walked down the aisle between the pews and wicker chairs to the pulpit. The attendant removed the archbishop's tiara, under which the famous cardinal's cap of red silk was suddenly revealed.

Brothers and sisters,” said the head of the French Catholics in an unexpectedly calm and warm voice, “today we have gathered here to honor the memory of our brother in Christ, Cardinal NN, who dedicated himself to converting the newly discovered tribes of the Amazon to Christ. He recently passed away. Let's pray for him.

Everyone who was in the cathedral stood up and began to read common prayer. It turns out that there is not a single tourist left here except us. And my friend and I, Orthodox by birth, quietly left the cathedral, because in those early years we were not yet trained to pray, especially in French... Maybe one day you will be lucky and you will get to Mass to understand that King Henri the Fourth had in mind.

When you find yourself back in the square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, taking with you an unforgettable experience for the rest of your life, take a few more steps straight from the exit of the temple. You will see how people who came from various countries crowd around a metal patch the size of a saucer embedded in the pavement. This is the zero point of French roads, and it is written there in pure French. From here you can go in any direction, and if you have fallen in love with Paris, then you will be interested in any point of it.

For example, located very nearby - once a fortress, then a palace, and now a museum.

In addition to admiring the building itself and its architectural solutions, we draw your attention to some significant elements of the monument.

In the eastern part of the temple there is an apse, which is visible from the Tournelle embankment. The symbol of the sunrise of the Resurrection with a gray-green vault and supporting arches is intended to receive divine energy.

On March 6, 2009, the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the very heart of the temple, opened. The crown of thorns of Christ is kept here, enclosed in a crystal ring with a gold frame. In the background stands a statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, holding in her hands the crown and nails that brought her son so much suffering. It is exhibited for viewing on all Fridays of Lent.

Nearby is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It is dedicated to the mother of the Savior. This is a place for sacred sacramental prayers and meditation.

On the central nave there is an altar, behind it you will see the sculptural composition “Pietà” by Nicolas Coustou. The Virgin Mary holds the body of her dead son. On both sides of her there are sculptures of kings: on the right - Louis XIII, offering Mary his scepter and crown, on the left - Louis XIV praying.

An unusual medieval altar can be seen in the middle of the central nave. Biblical scenes are depicted in stone on the altar barrier.

The northern and southern parts of the altar barrier - presentation biblical history Christ. Even those who have never taken Holy Bible in hand, will be able to piece together the story of Jesus from the images on the barrier.

The treasury, or trezor, is located in the annex of the cathedral. In addition to the crown of thorns, the Palatine cross-reliquary, it stores jewelry, things made of gold and silver, church household items, priestly robes, ancient manuscripts, etc.

The cathedral contains 27 statues of the Virgin Mary. The most famous is the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms, placed in the south-eastern part of the transept. The statue is called Notre Dame of Paris.

Turn your attention to the southern rose window with a diameter of 13 meters, located on the façade of the transept from the north. The stained glass rose window is considered a true masterpiece of High Gothic from the 13th century. Untouched by historical events, the north rose window amazes with its medieval mosaics.

Don't forget to see one of the largest musical instruments in the world - the organ.

And, according to one of the legends of the cathedral, ancient alchemists helped create the temple. The secret of the philosopher's stone is hidden in the geometric interweaving of the building. An ancient teaching is encrypted in the frescoes, by unraveling which you can gain immense power over the universe.

To avoid long lines, arrive at the cathedral early in the morning on weekdays.

To visit the towers, arrive 30 minutes early. The queue will be long, and only about 120 people pass per hour. If you arrive in a group, you can split up: some stand in line, others are still exploring the cathedral.

In bad weather and on holidays, entrance to the towers may be closed.

Please note that you will have to climb 422 steps (we warn pregnant women and those complaining about health).

If you want to attend the service, you need to arrive on Saturday at 5:45 or 18:15. Several services are held on Sunday. At 11:30 the international mass with an organ concert begins.

The most inexpensive souvenirs in Paris can be found in shops near Notre Dame.

Budget tourist cafes are located to the right of the cathedral in the Latin Quarter.

Every month in the first days, on all Fridays of Great Lent, the treasures of the temple are brought out for public admiration. To see this beauty, look into the cathedral around three o'clock in the afternoon.

Tourists can rejoice at the opportunity to capture the decoration of the cathedral on camera: photography is allowed on the territory of the temple and inside.

Visiting an architectural masterpiece, a true work of art, should definitely be on your list when planning a trip to Paris.