Notre Dame architecture style. Cathedral of Notre Dame

Among their most cherished desires many earthlings call a trip to Paris - one of the most romantic cities on the planet. Composing a route through the legendary French capital and its environs, foreign tourists plan to visit at least a dozen "mandatory" attractions. Among them are the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the Champs Elysees, Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Bastille, Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge cabaret. But the cathedral has been the most visited object in Paris for centuries. Notre Dame of Paris aka Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame). More than 13 million tourists come to see it every year.

The majestic French Catholic Church, where pompous prayers, imperial coronations, royal weddings and spectacular funerals of the deceased crowned persons were held, has a rich history and difficult fate.

The structure was repeatedly destroyed and reconstructed, more than once there was a real threat of its complete destruction and oblivion. The fact that this magnificent cathedral still exists and functions is a great merit of Victor Hugo. The famous French writer and playwright, in love with his homeland, in 1831 described the colorful temple in the novel of the same name, Notre Dame Cathedral.

A romantic work with a tragic ending has become incredibly popular. The book has been translated into dozens of languages, and later theatrical productions, film adaptations and spectacular musicals were created on its basis. Thousands of tourists, inspired by the poetic description of Paris and deeply touched by the sad fate of the beautiful Esmeralda, gathered in the French capital to see the cathedral with their own eyes, where the dramatic events created by Hugo's rich imagination took place.

Nowadays, the French musical Notre Dame de Paris, which debuted in 1998 and got into the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful musical performance, has received extraordinary popularity. Over the next 12 years, 10 foreign productions of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris were created, including in Europe, the USA, Russia and Korea. To appreciate this amazing piece of music, listen to one of the most famous singles in the history of France - the song "Belle", dedicated to the main characters of the novel.

NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS: 2 CENTURY BUILDING

The official start date for the construction of the legendary temple is 1163. It was then that the first stone was laid in the foundation of the future majestic building.

Construction work lasted more than 180 years - the huge cathedral acquired its final appearance only in 1345. During the construction, the internal premises were actively used as they were ready. At the main altar, consecrated back in 1182, prayers, coronations, weddings and funerals were held, and in 1302 a meeting of the first parliament of France was held in one of the luxurious halls.

Over the course of two centuries, several architects worked on the design of the temple, which explains its rich and diverse architecture and decoration. Money for the construction was collected "by the whole world", every Parisian wanted to have a hand in the construction god's temple. Those who contributed large sums, could count on burial inside the chapels, as well as exhibit their statue in the cathedral.

For a long time, Notre Dame Cathedral remained the decoration and the main religious center of all of France. But not only were there church services. Since the temple was considered the safest place in the city, the rich brought their savings here for safekeeping. The cathedral cordially opened its doors not only to those in power, but also to the poor - pilgrims and local beggars could always count on temporary shelter within the walls of the mighty sanctuary. The high 69-meter bell tower played the role of a watch tower, from which the approaches to the city were monitored.

However, since the seventeenth century, the cathedral had to go through difficult times. Under the reign of Louis XIV, stained glass windows and graves were partially destroyed. The French Revolution (1789-1799) became even more destructive for the centuries-old temple. The rebels plundered the cathedral, dismantled the spiers and, on the orders of their leader, Maximilian Robespierre, outraged the chiseled statues. The sculptures of the French kings were beheaded and thrown from the gallery, the graves were destroyed, the bells were melted down, the statues of the Virgin Mary on the altar were replaced by the sculpture of the goddess of Liberty. But things could have ended even more tragically, since the rebels initially planned to blow up the cathedral, but agreed to keep the building on the condition that the Parisians would pay for the needs of the revolution. The sanctuary was declared the Temple of Reason and turned into ... a wine warehouse.

Only in 1802 the plundered cathedral was returned to the bosom of the church. The state of the temple of God was so deplorable that during the coronation of Napoleon (1804), the once luxurious halls had to be draped with cloth to hide their terrible condition.

Over the next three decades, Notre-Dame de Paris slowly collapsed and fell into disrepair. And only after the release of Hugo's novel, the building was again noticed. In 1841-1846. a large-scale restoration was carried out, during which not only the destroyed objects were restored, but also new elements appeared: statues, a spire, a gallery of chimeras.

ARCHITECTURE OF NOTRE DAME DE PARIS - A MASTERPIECE SYMBIOSIS OF ROMANESque AND GOTHIC STYLES

The architect of the main Christian Parisian temple managed to harmoniously combine two styles - Romanesque and Gothic. Thanks to this duality, the cathedral has a recognizable unique appearance, which was preserved during the last restoration work.

The modern Notre Dame de Paris is a huge building 130 m long, 35 m high (36 m towers) and 50 m wide. At the same time, the temple can accommodate more than 9 thousand people.

One of the main decorations of the cathedral is the colored stained-glass windows that replace the walls. It is here that the largest stained-glass panels in Europe are located (the diameter of the central stained-glass window is 9.6 m). The temple keeps unique Christian relics, the most valuable shrine is the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ.

The famous French cathedral is a visual spectacular Bible. On the walls of the temple and inside the building, with the help of sculptures and paintings, the entire history of Christianity is depicted - from the moment of the fall to the Last Judgment. It is worth coming here to offer up your prayers to God, and just to walk around the majestic building to the bewitching sounds of the organ.

Which Victor Hugo immortalized in his work is called the heart of Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral is visited by up to 13 million tourists a year and is almost one of the most visited in the world. And there are reasons for that.

We, like everyone else, are waiting for the speedy restoration of the cathedral. But such is the history of Notre Dame, and we believe that it will endure, be restored and become even more beautiful. Our position on . It is only worth noting that Notre Dame did not burn down. There was a fire, but Notre Dame Cathedral is not lost. Today, unfortunately, it is not possible to climb the towers of Notre Dame or go inside the cathedral, but it is quite possible to admire its architecture and even enjoy the night illumination.

How to get to Notre Dame de Paris

Getting to the Parisian shrine is very easy. Her Address: 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame, Ile de la Cit, 75004 Paris, France. There are several metro stations nearby: line 4 - Cite or St-Michel; and 11 lines - Hôtel de Ville station; , lines 11 and 14 - Châtelet station; Line 10 - Maubert-Mutualité or Cluny-La Sorbonne station.

You can use the RER network transport: lines B and C, St-Michel - Notre-Dame station.

Opening hours and Masses at Notre Dame

From Monday to Saturday, the cathedral can be visited from 8:00 to 19:00. Sunday - from 8:00 to 12.30 and 14:00 to 17:00. Services at Notre Dame are held daily. There are several services on Sunday. International Mass starts at 11:30 am. Even if you are not a religious person, you can attend a service and thus listen to a free organ concert.

Cafes and souvenirs near Notre Dame de Paris

A little about the history and architecture of Notre Dame

The architecture of the cathedral is truly unique. The temple was built for almost two centuries, from 1163 to 1345. When its first stone was laid, France was dominated by the Romanesque style with its density and solidity of construction. Over time, he was replaced by the Gothic, more intricate and light. Due to the fact that the cathedral absorbed the best of both of these styles, its building acquired its own look - unique and mystical. There is not a single internal stone wall in the cathedral. They are replaced by columns that connect light arches to each other, and stained-glass windows serve to separate the rooms. According to the Gothic canons, there are no paintings on the walls of the temple. This allows the light coming through the colored glass to draw beautiful patterns.

The history of Notre Dame de Paris is full of tragic events. He many times became a bargaining chip in the hands of the rulers of the country. Under the rule of Louis XIV, the cathedral lost its main decoration - stained glass windows. And during the Great French Revolution, Robespierre announced to the residents of the capital that he intended to demolish the shrine. But the love of the Parisians for the cathedral was so great that they all agreed to pay a predatory fee for the needs of the revolution so that Notre Dame de Paris would not be touched. Robespierre spared the building, but ordered that the heads of the stone statues of the kings who stole it be cut off. A large-scale restoration of the temple began in 1841, ten years after the publication of Hugo's novel. It lasted for 23 years. The building was completely restored, broken statues and stained-glass windows were replaced with new ones, and a gallery with chimeras appeared on the facade of the building. The space in front of the temple was also cleared of unnecessary buildings to form a square.

Every more or less large city in countries where the main religion is Christianity (and not only in them) can boast of a cathedral and, sometimes, more than one.

Perhaps the most famous, most fascinating and unusual, which has 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 sign “zero kilometer”, it is from this point that all roads of the country are counted.

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

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 remarkable temple throughout France. The ceremony of laying the first stone in 1163 was attended by Pope Alexander III, which gave rise to historians to assume that he personally laid this stone.

The construction of the building lasted for 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 Sgolli, who was already well over seventy, died. And the cathedral was completely completed in 1330.

Due to such a long construction period, the building of the cathedral contains features of both Romanesque and Gothic styles, which gives it both monumentality and elegance. 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 a 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 were demolished inside, and some of the original stained-glass windows were replaced with ordinary glass.

But real disasters befell the cathedral in 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 re-consecrated, but after the return of the Bourbons, it was abandoned and was in danger of demolition.

In 1841, restoration began, which lasted 23 years. The repair 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 Mother of God with two angels is located in the center of the main stained-glass window-rose, the diameter of which is 9.6 meters, and on the left and right, as a reminder of the original sin, are Adam and Eve.

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

The northern and southern portals have their own names, the northern - in honor of Virgin Mary, and the southern one - in honor of Saint Anna.

scenes Doomsday located on the central portal. The ledges are famous for the figures depicted on them: on the left - St. Dionysius, the first bishop, on the right - St. Etienne, the deacon.

Lighting in Notre Dame is natural, but very poor, as light penetrates only through high, 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 that 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, D-sharp tone.
3. Hyacinthe Jeanne, weight is 813 kg, tone fa.
4. Denise David, weight is 670 kg, F-sharp tone.

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

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

Listening to the amazing sound of a 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 Phoebe ... After all, the unfortunate Quasimodo entrusted all his troubles and sufferings to this bell.

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 these days is free.

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

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

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

It is here that you will see the thirteen-ton bell named Emmanuel, which sounds only in special cases - during large church holidays and after terrible catastrophes, when all peoples unite in common grief and compassion, for example, this happened after the tragedy of the twin towers in America.

The path also goes through Chimera Gallery 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 the side of Monastery Street (Address: Rue du cloitre Notr-Dame), buy tickets and enjoy immersing yourself in history.

Children too, no doubt, 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 kids will not yawn and dream of leaving as soon as possible, but will look at everything around and try to compare what they see in the cartoon with reality.

Address of Notre Dame Cathedral

• 6pl. 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)

The opening hours of the towers and the Gallery of Chimeras (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)
• Entrance 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. The towers are paid for adults, under 18s are free.

One of outstanding monuments architecture is the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Sung and celebrated by poets, writers and artists, this renowned 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 in the distant 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 life in France, where emperors were crowned, royals were crowned and buried. Among other things, the place is notable for the fact that the first parliament of France sat in it, also in catholic church found temporary shelter for the poor and destitute.

The novel that glorified the cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is shrouded in a halo of romance, covered in mystery and mysticism. This attracts millions of travelers to the temple every year. Notre Dame de Paris looks more captivating to tourists than the famous Louvre. There is a popular expression: "See Paris and die." Every person must visit Cathedral before dying.

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 imagination and wild imagination that gave life to extraordinary heroes. The reader is immersed in 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 deceit of the intriguer Claude Frollo. Thanks to these names, the name of the cathedral is associated with a dramatic fairy tale, this work piqued the curiosity of people from all over the world. But all the characters are just an invention of a gifted author.

grand construction

The main builders of the Gothic "castle" were considered to be two talented architects - Jean de Chelle and Pierre de Montreuil, there is practically no information about the rest of the people who had a hand in the construction. But the long years that this construction project lasted eloquently testify to the fact that there were many participants.

Notre Dame Cathedral can accommodate nine thousand people at the same 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 Saint Stephen.
3. Carolingian Cathedral.
4. Romanesque Cathedral.

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

Style of Notre Dame Cathedral

The general impression of the 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 recall that the leaders changed with enviable frequency. In the XII century (the beginning of the construction of the cathedral), a peculiar Romanesque style prevailed, but gradually it was replaced by the Gothic. 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 is losing ground here, giving way to practicality, rationality, power and simplicity.
2. Gothic architecture is characterized by vertical compositions, pointed elements, and details directed upwards.

Echoes of the Romanesque style of Normandy and the 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 only benefited 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 crunchy croissants, gourmet cuisine and collectible wines - it's all 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 the minds.

When visually inspected, it is difficult to believe that this miracle was created by the hands of an ordinary person. ancient legend says that the devil himself took part in the construction. Moreover, he immortalized himself in the form of a chimera that adorns 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 skilled craftsman named Biscorne. The blacksmith valued this responsible, honorable order so much and was afraid to disappoint his employers that he called upon ... Satan to help him. And only thanks to the efforts of the unclean, the whole world can receive aesthetic pleasure from the contemplation of 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 "devil's fence" was sprinkled with it, the iron succumbed.

What Tourists Are Saying

Notre Dame Cathedral is very tempting for all travelers. Reviews of people who have visited it are mostly enthusiastic and 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 gloomy 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 are wondering who laid the first stone of this grandiose structure. There are several theories on this subject, but it is, of course, impossible to say for sure, too much time has passed since then. There are two most popular contenders for this role - Pope Alexander III and Bishop Maurice de Sully. But it was the bishop who decided 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 was built before. We can say that the plans have come true. People started to perform a laborious 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, the work began. Of 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.

Under 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 is amazing, but the Parisians complied with the conditions. Unfortunately, the national convention did not think to keep its word, the cathedral was badly damaged. Only in 1831, thanks to the efforts of Hugo, people again began to show interest in the temple and, as a result, the restoration of the building began a year after the publication of the book.

Exterior view 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.

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

Interior decoration and architecture a

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

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

The first organ was installed in 1402, but its sound was not powerful enough for the vast 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 Virgin Fountain.

Notre-Dame-de-Paris thanks to the novel by Victor Hugo is known all over the world. Few people know, but one of the most famous Parisian sights is also obliged to the writer for salvation from destruction.

By the time Hugo's novel was sent to print in 1832, the still not so famous Cathedral of Our Lady was in a very sad state - the years did not spare him. Despite the fact that the building was already more than 500 years old, the history of the attraction did not bother the French much. And the writer himself claimed that one of the tasks he set himself was to teach Parisians to love architecture.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris seen from the Seine
View of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - gargoyles

And the architecture of this cathedral really deserves attention. It took more than two centuries to build Notre Dame de Paris - the building in the Gothic style was erected from 1163 to 1345. The process was approached fundamentally: several buildings were demolished, a new road was built. Interestingly, the building was consecrated and began to be used even at the stage of construction - in 1182 the altar was consecrated, although the architectural structure itself had not acquired its final shape by that time. With all this, the nave of the cathedral was completed only by 1196, when money appeared for the construction of the roof.

Not surprisingly, several dozen architects were involved in the construction during the construction. However, in the end they managed to build a unique building, which today claims to be one of the most famous Christian churches in the world (up to 14 million tourists visit it every year). But the desire to realize their own ideas in a common brainchild can still be detected by looking closely at this ensemble. If you look at it closely, it becomes clear that the western wall and towers differ in style and dimensions.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - facade
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - walls
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - in the evening

Finishing work was completed by 1345, and we can say that until the 18th century, Notre Dame de Paris survived untouched by the hands of builders. But the 18th century gave him a lot of trials and updates.

In 1708 - 1725, under the direction of Robert de Cotes, the cathedral choir was significantly altered. These works became part of the renovation of the cathedral, promised to him for the birth of Anna of Austria, who was able to become pregnant after the vow made to the Virgin. In the process of reconstruction, fragments of columns were removed from the foundation, which were part of the building that stood here earlier. They turned out to be decorated with rich ornaments, and they were created back in the 9th century.

This completed the renovation of the cathedral. In 1789, a revolution broke out in France, led by Robespierre. The revolutionary declared Notre Dame de Paris the "Temple of Reason", and four years later issued a decree to deprive the heads of "stone kings decorating churches." At the same time, the spire of the 13th century was destroyed.

In 1802, during the reign of Napoleon, the crumbling building was returned to the church. And after the work of Hugo gained popularity, the question of the demolition of the building was no longer raised. And in 1841, restoration work began, headed by Viollet-le-Duc, already a popular architect at that time. For 23 years, the building itself was restored, crippled statues were replaced, a new spire 96 meters high was built. Thanks to Viollet-le-Duc, figures of chimeras appeared on the facade and statues of monsters at the foot of the towers.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - inside
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

The exterior of the building, thanks to a minimum of restorations, has been preserved almost in its original beauty. In particular, there are three recognizable lancet portals that hide the entrances, above which there is a panel with gospel scenes. By the way, few people know that above the portals there are sculptures of kings from old testament- those who were beheaded by the revolutionaries.

In the external architecture of the cathedral, it is also worth noting the fact that the northern tower is larger than the southern one. And initially there were only bells in it. In particular, the largest one (the one that sounds least of all and has the key of F-sharp). In the 15th century, bells also appeared in the south tower. Today, all of them, except for the giant Emmanuel, sound twice a day. And the most famous bell (and the oldest) is named "Belle".

Point Zero - Kilometer Zero

Very close to Notre Dame de Paris is the Crypt of the Notre Dame porch, a museum that contains exhibits related to the cathedral. In particular, elements of buildings that stood here earlier and were discovered during excavations in 65-72 years of the last century. And on the square in front of the temple you can find the beginning of all roads in the country - the French zero kilometer.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris opening hours:
Open every day from 8:00 to 18:45 (19:15 Saturday and Sunday).

Entrance is free and free
Passage with bags and suitcases is prohibited.

Excursions
Excursions in Russian are conducted by volunteers on Tuesday and Wednesday from 14:00, on Saturday 14:30
The meeting point is at the bottom of the cathedral, under the organ.
These tours are free.

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris in numbers

Approximately 13 million pilgrims and visitors from all over the world per year, or an average of over 30,000 people per day. Some days, over 50,000 visitors per day.

Building
– Area 4800 m2
– The height of the vault is 33 meters
– Height under the roof 43 meters
– Row spacing 10 meters
- The height of the towers is 69 meters
– Steps 380
– The height of the spire is 96 meters

– The length of the nave is 60 meters
– The length of the transept is 14 meters
– The length of the choir is 36 meters
– Total length 128 meters
– The length of the Western facade is 43 meters

– The width of the nave is 12 meters
– The width of the choir is 12 meters
– Total Width 40 meters
– The width of the transverse nave is 48 meters
– The width of the Western facade is 40 meters

– The diameter of the rose on the north and south is 13.10 meters
– Diameter pink west 9.70 meters

bells

The north tower has eight bells cast in 2012:
- Gabriel, #2, 4162 kg, diameter 182.8 cm
- Anne-Geneviève, si2, 3477 kg, diameter 172.5 cm
– Denis, do#3, 2502 kg, diameter 153.6 cm
- Marseille, re # 3, 1925 kg, diameter 139.3 cm
– Etienne, mi#3, 1494 kg, diameter 123.7 cm
– Benoît-Joseph, size #3, 1309 kg, diameter 120.7 cm
– Maurice, floor #3, 1011 kg, diameter 109.7 cm
– Jean-Marie, #3, 782 kg, diameter 99.7 cm

In the south tower, two bells:
– Emmanuel, cast in 1686, f#2, 13230 kg, diameter 262 cm
– Marie, cast 2012, floor #2, 6023 kg, diameter 206.5 cm

Organ
Large Organ: 5 keyboards, 111 registers and 7374 pipes.
Organ Chorus: consists of two keyboards and pedals and 1840 pipes.

Video:

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris