Notre Dame Cathedral

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The Notre Dame is considered to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a name that many people will know. Notre Dame de Paris is its full name, meaning Our Lady of Paris. The cathedral is built in the Gothic style and is a Roman Catholic church that is still in use today. It is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world.

The Notre Dame received much notoriety from the famous novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by renowned author Victor Hugo which was published in 1831. Today it attracts over 13 million visitors and pilgrims each year. In holding with the view that worshiping the Lord should be open to all, there is no entrance fee to the cathedral. Visitors are asked to dress appropriately and to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb those who come to worship in its hallowed halls.

A number of significant events have taken place in the Notre Dame Cathedral. Some of those events include the coronation of Henry VI as king of France, the marriage of James V of Scotland to Madeleine of France, the coronation of Napoleon I, as well as the beautification and canonization of Joan of Arc.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the exact site of the first Parisian Christian church, Saint Etienne basilica. The basilica was built on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter. Thus the Notre Dame Cathedral symbolizes the victory of Christianity over the pagan Roman gods to some pilgrims.

Though the Cathedral was ravaged during the French Revolution, it has been beautifully restored. It is a shame that the statues and stained glass windows destroyed during that time are lost forever. In spite of this desecration the Cathedral still has many architectural features that must be seen. There are the portals, the west front with its two enormous towers and the stained glass windows that remain, including the various rose windows.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is visited by many people each day and hundreds come to attend the various mass services. If you truly want to experience the Roman Catholic church then this is the place to do it.

Nearby attractions: Sainte Chapelle and The Latin Quarter

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Access to the cathedral is open and free of charge every day of the year, during the opening hours. Donations are welcome if you feel it is appropriate. Access to the cathedral Towers is free with the Paris Pass otherwise admission charges apply.

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

Phone: 01 42 34 56 10

Official Website: Notre Dame Cathedral

Directions

Metro / RER Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
M4	Saint-Michel	7 minutes
M10	Cluny - La Sorbonne	6 minutes
M1, 7, 11, or 14	Châtelet	12 minutes
RER B or C	Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame	6 minutes

How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral by Metro / RER

By Metro: From Metro Line 4 exit at Saint-Michel Station and cross the road to your right and walk north straight across the Saint-Michel Bridge. You will already see the Notre Dame to your right as you are crossing the bridge. From Metro Line 1,7,11, or 14 exit at Châtelet Station and follow Rue Saint-Denis south and cross the bridge over the Seine. Keep walking south on Blvd du Palais and go left just before the next bridge. The Notre Dame is straight ahead. From Cluny - La Sorbonne Station exit and go east to Rue Saint-Jacques; then left (north)continuing across the bridge.

By RER: Take RER B or C to Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame Station and cross the Saint-Michel Bridge. Notre Dame is visible on your right.

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Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5

Beautiful and empowering inside. Give generously when you exit. Pick a cool day to hike to top, very tightly packed area. Sign up for walking tour of island, so you do not have to stand in 1 to 2 hour line for climb to the top for views. Stuart. Los Angeles, .CA, USA

Stuart Davis - 3 days ago

A great place to visit the lines don't last long to enter the cathedral. This place is very nice to see. It's one of the biggest cathedral in Paris. To go up the cathedral to the roof there is a fee. But entering the main floor is free admissions. A great place to visit at least once.

Randy Carrero - 26 days ago

The Notre Dame is such a beautiful monument, situated at central Paris. It is huge from inside and so well made. The carvings, glass facade and rich history inside will stun almost everyone. I would advise interested people to take a guided tour to learn about the rich history of this place, which started construction nearly 900 years ago. We stood in a huge line outside for about 15 minutes to get inside, however the heavenly architecture of the building truly captivated us all.

Rahul Ajmera - 1 month ago

Stayed in Paris for 4 days and came here twice for hours. Both times it was packed at every turn. The structure itself is well preserved, VERY high ceilings, artifacts from its history, and many seats to seat and ponder. But for spirituality reasons, it gets 4 stars. It has no pure energy there. It has none at all. (Luxembourg has THE most peaceful and serene chapel I've been to in Europe). But if your going for sightseeing go early and you won't be disappointed.

Bria Webb - 1 month ago

How can you NOT give Notre Dame 5 stars? Go early to beat the crowds. We went at 9:00 am and nearly had the place to ourselves. Towers open for visitors to walk up at 10:00. I highly recommend signing up for a guided tour. The one we did lasted one hour and gave us just enough historical information to enrich our visit. Even if you don't do a tour, you will be impressed. Simply beautiful. Also, check their web site because they sometimes have concerts and other special events.

Nancy Adzentoivich - 2 months ago

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