The majestic cathedral of Notre - Dame is often referred to as 'Lady of Paris'. The beautiful Gothic cathedral is a major tourist destination of the French capital. The Cathedral of Notre Dame is a working Roman Catholic cathedral. The present location of the Notre Dame Cathedral was initially the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the Jupiter. The temple was later reformed into a Christian basilica and then into a Romanesque church or the Cathedral of St. Etienne, established by Childebert in 528.
History of Notre Dame Cathedral
The cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris holds a special significance in the history of the city. The construction of this cathedral started in 1163 and took almost 180 years to be completed in around 1345. Maurice de Sully, the bishop of Paris suggested building a cathedral dedicated to Virgin Mary. The cathedral recites the stories related to Bible through its inscriptions, paintings, portals, and painted glasses.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a living example of Parisian history. According to the history, the cathedral was a place where crusaders used to pray before they left for their holy wars. Eventually polyphonic music was developed in the cathedral through choirs and instrumentals. Notre-Dame cathedral was despoiled during the French revolution. The church revolutionists used the interior as a warehouse for storing food. Finally during the 19th century, writer Victor Hugo and other artists decided to
revive the dangerous state of the Cathedral by raising the awareness of its artistic value among the natives.
Architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral
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A number of chapels were added to the main building during 1235-50. The entire structure of the cathedral is an example of typical Gothic architecture. The interior of the cathedral was shaped during the mid 13th century with small clerestory windows facing downwards. Few prominent features of the Notre Dame Cathedral include the combination of decorated screens and colonnettes, the vertical and horizontal alteration of the frontals, the massive sized windows, and the delicately designed walls.
The cathedral offers much to see and admire. The west front of the cathedral rises to 69-meter or 228-feet tall towers. In the west front, three portals depicting the scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, Portal to Saint Anne (Virgin Mary's mother) and the Portal of the Last Judgment was embellished. The South Tower of the cathedral houses the famous bell of Emmanuel. This bell weighs around 13 metric tons and its tongue alone weighs around 500 kilograms. The bell was re-casted in 1631. The Galerie des Chimères or Grand Gallery is the passage way that connects the two towers. This gallery houses the legendary gargoyles. The West Rose Window of the cathedral is 10 meters in width. The stained glass window décor dates back to the 13th century and creates a magical ambiance as the sunlight enters the cathedral. A statue of the Virgin Mary carrying Baby Jesus is positioned in front of the window. The statues of the 28 Kings of Judah and Israel are aligned in the King's Gallery.
Cathedral of Notre - Dame can be reached by availing the Cité or St-Michel metro route. The cathedral is open from 8am to 6:45pm every day, round the year. The entry fees vary according to the age of the visitor and the section of the cathedral that the person desire to enter.
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