Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Once upon a time on this site stood the Gallo-Roman Temple of Jupiter, and then - the first Christian basilica of Paris, the Church of St. Stephen. Today in the eastern part of the Ile de la Cité stands a masterpiece of world architectural architecture, immortalized by Victor Hugo in the novel of the same name and thousands of artists and photographers from all over the world. For any resident of the French capital, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a symbol of the city and a place where you can come and enjoy the art of the past..
First stone
In 1163, construction began on the temple, which will become a symbol of Paris for many centuries. At this time, the king of France was Louis VII, who was reputed by the standards of his time as an educated and pious man. He led a rather modest lifestyle, respected the poor and helped the needy in every possible way. Under him, Gothic architecture began to flourish and it was Louis VII who gave the bishop a donation for the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in the amount of 200 pounds in silver. Bishop Maurice de Sully and laid the foundation stone of the temple, the construction and decoration of which lasted more than 150 years.
Interesting Facts
- The height of the temple is 35 meters, and its towers soared into the sky by 69 meters.
- The weight of the largest bell of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is 13 tons. It is located in the south tower and is named after Emmanuel.
- There is no wall painting in the temple, and the lancet windows, decorated with stained-glass windows, serve as a source of light..
- The roof of the building is made of 5 mm thick lead tiles. They are overlapped and have a roof weight of 210 tonnes.
- The spire of Notre Dame Cathedral is made of oak and covered with lead. Its height is 96 meters.
- The central stained-glass window "Rose" has a diameter of 9.6 meters. Unlike other stained-glass windows of the temple, the central one has been partially preserved from the Middle Ages..
Heavenly music
The bells of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris have their own names. They sound twice a day at 8 am and 7 pm. The voice of the main bell, Emmanuel has a F-sharp tone, he is consonant with Denise David.
The organ of the cathedral, which was first installed in 1402, has an interesting history. Since then, it has been repeatedly restored and reconstructed, and today its romantic sound is provided by 110 registers and 7400 pipes. Three titular organists serve in the church.
You can visit Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris every day from 9.00 to 19.30 on Monday-Thursday and from 9.00 to 21.00 on Friday-Sunday from April to September. From October to March, the opening hours of the cathedral for visitors are 10.00-17.00 regardless of the day of the week.
