Paris Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame de Paris : a guided tour

Construction on Notre-Dame commenced in 1163 during the Middle Ages, and the cathedral has become the true heart of Paris. It is one of the city’s (and France’s) most recognised monuments. Erected on the Ile de la Cité, majestic and elegant, Notre-Dame has watched over Paris while the city goes about its business for almost a thousand years. Being one of the most prestigious architectural works in Paris, it is a source of constant creative inspiration to Parisians.

The impressive Place du Parvis is located near the entrance of Notre-Dame. The square was extended by Haussman in order to make the cathedral’s presence even greater.

Today we can see traces of the old road that led to the entrance of Notre-Dame, with its borders marked in different coloured stone. The Place du Parvis leads to the Saint Anne Portal, as well as to the cathedral’s other two portals, which are (from left to right): Portal of the Last Judgement, Portal of the Virgin and Portal of Saint Anne.

All three portals are decorated with statues which evoke various images of Heaven and Hell. The most famous of these is the decapitated St Denis holding his head in his hands, which is located on the Portal of the Virgin.

Above the portals is the Gallery of Kings. Situated 20 metres above the ground, the 28 kings represent the kings of Judah who preceded Christ. All of these statues were decapitated by Revolutionaries in 1793 in response to their rejection of the monarchy, wrongly believing that the statues represented the kings of France. The statues were all later restored by the famous French architect, Viollet-le-Duc.

Looking even higher, above the Gallery of Kings, you can see the balcony of the Virgin and the West rose window. This rose window forms a sort of halo behind the statue of the Virgin with Child and the two angels.

Place du Parvis and Notre-Dame’s Façade

The tour group then crosses the Grande Galerie between the two towers to visit Emmanuel, the bell in the South Tower. In order to see Emmanuel, you have to climb the wooden stairs which are reminiscent of the world of Quasimodo. The bell that currently hangs in the South Tower is the same as that which was forged in 1685. Legend states that when Emmanuel was created in 1631, the Parisians threw their jewels and gold in the molten metal and it is thanks to these jewels that Emmanuel sounds a pure F. Fortunately, Emmanuel was saved during the Revolution and the bell still tolls today on important historical dates in France and on religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Emmanuel weighs 13 tonnes in total, with its single clapper weighing 500 kilograms alone!

Climbing Notre-Dame’s Towers

We recommend starting your visit of Notre-Dame by climbing the cathedral’s towers. The entrance to the staircase is located to the left of the North Tower. During the climb, you will come across a Gothic room that houses a souvenir shop, and after several steps you will reach the famous Grande Galerie.

Not to be missed, this spot is the best viewpoint from which to observe the frightening chimeras that keep constant watch over the cathedral, as well as the remarkable neo-Gothic spire that was requested by Viollet-le-Duc during the cathedral’s restoration in 1845. The gargoyles at the ends of Notre-Dame have the important function of draining rainwater off the roof of the cathedral.

The peculiar length of the gargoyles allows them to direct the rainwater away from the façade to avoid damaging the building. All of the current gargoyles are originals from the Middle Ages. As for the chimeras, they are decorative statues of fantastical animals and monsters created by Viollet-le-Duc, who wanted to recreate the mystical atmosphere of the Middle Ages in Notre-Dame. The chimeras are located all along the Grande Galerie.

The story of hunchback Quasimodo attracted a lot of attention from the people at the time that Victor Hugo’s novel was published in 1831. As such, the success of “Notre-Dame de Paris” was such that the cathedral was able to be saved from ruin thanks to the enthusiasm of the people. Notre-Dame’s fame is thus in part thanks to Victor Hugo.

Notre-Dame de Paris: visite guidée

This article has been written by Irene Meneghetti as part of her French course at French Moments, Mosman.

Inside Notre-Dame

After climbing to the top of the towers, the group descends down the spiral staircase. Notre-Dame was built during the Middle Ages in a Gothic style that was fairly innovative for its time. This style can be seen in the cathedral’s buttresses, spires and gargoyles (located towards the outside) which are now considered to be elements typical of the Gothic style. The cathedral’s interior is incredible and the height of its 35 metre ceilings is astounding. Visitors are struck by the sheer majesty of the immense nave which accommodates 6,500 people. The ceilings are decorated by ridged vaults, with multiple arches that come together at various points across the length of the building, covering more than 130 metres altogether.

The chapels

We recommend touring the cathedral in a clockwise direction. The chapels surrounding the cathedral are all unique, and their walls are covered in frescos depicting biblical stories, most of which date from the 17th century. These paintings have a lavishly detailed style, with vibrant and gilded colours, glorifying Saints and religious characters. There are 27 chapels in total, all of which were ordered by families of the nobility and powerful corporations. When you reach the transept, we recommend you stand at its crossing so that you can see both the North and South rose windows.

The Buttresses

Notre-Dame’s impressive buttresses are clearly visible on the outside of the Eastern facade. The view from Jean XXIII Square allows visitors to appreciate the way in which the buttresses, stained glass windows and the spire complement each other beneath the shape of the dome. These masonry arches take the lateral thrust of the archways of the groined vaults and transport them towards the abutment pillar. The pillars’ pinnacles are extraordinary and often very extravagant. Even though they appear to play a purely decorative role with their beautiful flowers, these pieces of stone or lead have the very important and practical function of stabilisation, through giving extra weight to the buttresses. Until the construction of cathedral Saint-Etienne de Bourges, the buttresses were made up of only one giant piece. It was in Bourges that the buttress became one of the main characteristics of Gothic architecture, and it is this aspect of the architecture and construction which gives the impression that the cathedral is suspended from Heaven.

The North Rose Window

Unlike that of the South, the North rose window has maintained nearly all of its original stained glass windows from the 13th century. The centre features the Virgin Mary surrounded by the judges, kings, great priests and the prophets of the Old Testament.

The Transept

The transept is flanked by a statue of Saint Denis and also of the Virgin with Child from the 14th century. A commemorative plaque in memory of the English soldiers killed during the First World War is located to the south-west. Notre-Dame’s transept and its crossing give the cathedral the shape of a Latin cross, which itself is oriented to the southeast, towards Jerusalem. Beneath the north and south rose windows are enormous stained glass windows which allow a natural, warm light to permeate the crossing of the transept.

The Choir

The choir is located behind the transept, is surrounded by a double ambulatory and is shielded from the rest of the building by a Gothic rood screen. This jube served as a separation between the sanctified area reserved for the clergy on one side and the area used by the non-religious on the other. In the Middle Ages, the nave of some Gothic cathedrals often housed a kind of covered market for merchants and their clientele, and sometimes housed the rather unusual smells of animals, urine or faeces - remembering that prostitutes used to offer their services in the corners of the nave!

Several Bishops and Archbishops are buried in the choir’s chapels, which are much more lavishly decorated than those found in the nave. Most of the frescos depict Jesus’ life. The choir features gilded stalls designed for the church choirs who sing hymns at services and religious celebrations.

The stained-glass windows

Notre Dame’s stained glass windows depict religious stories. Some of the windows were destroyed during the World Wars, but most of them are the originals from the Middle Ages. These windows are a testament to the remarkable elegance and finesse of Gothic art.

The South Rose windows

The South rose window endured the Revolution, various fires and wars. Its original stained glass windows no longer exist but were replaced by Viollet-le-Duc from 1845 onwards. They depict Jesus in the centre of the window, surrounded by saints, apostles and angels.

The Chandeliers

The chandeliers surrounding the cathedral’s ambulatory are located at the entrance to the chapels and are an important religious symbol, as they represent the light of God. They were known as “Crowns of Light” during the Middle Ages and were of great significance in churches and cathedrals. Restorations are currently being undertaken on the Great Chandelier which normally hangs at the crossing of the transept.

The Great Organ

Notre-Dame’s great organ – which is still there today – is located in front of the large rose window of the facade and was extended in 1992. The original organ was installed in Notre Dame during the Middle Ages (12th century), but its musical capacity was no longer enough for the cathedral. The contemporary organ features five keyboards, one hundred and nine stops, and almost eight thousand pipes. According to the website for Notre-Dame, it is the largest organ in France.

Outside Notre-Dame

After a long and informative exploration of Notre-Dame, we recommend finishing your visit with a tour of the area outside the building, passing through the gardens that line the Seine.

Jean XXII Square is a peaceful park that is crowned by a neo-Gothic fountain and is located at the chevet of Notre Dame. With any luck, you will be able to listen to a jazz group while you explore. Heading towards Ile St Louis, the jazz music will greet you once again at the junction of the Square de Ile-de-France (which was used as a morgue and a walking area from the Napoleonic era until 1910!) and the pedestrian-only Pont St Louis (St Louis Bridge). Your next step will undoubtedly be a well-earned rest at the Berthillon ice creamery on Ile St Louis!

Fin de la visite

Last Judgment Portal

Virgin Portal

Ste Anne Portal (entrance)

Galerie des Rois

Balcon de la Vierge & rosace Ouest

Grande Galerie & chimères

South Tower & Emmanuel Bell

Panoramic terrace

Entrance to the towers

In order to take the stairs leading to the top of the South Tower, you must return to the Grande Galerie. At 69 metres high, you should stay as long as the guards will let you in order to fully appreciate the magnificent view over West Paris (from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Coeur). This extraordinary view also provides a different perspective of the cathedral’s greenish roof, as well as the clocks and the gargoyles.