THERE ARE MANY SITES to visit in Paris, but in the small Île de la Cité there is an 800 years old cathedral, gallant, and imposing specimen of French Gothic architecture that took under 200 years to complete: Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris.
More refined visitor knows why to learn about her vast and fascinating history before he wonders what else to do in Paris. Visits to sites of this splendor and impressiveness are the ones that fill a visitor's eyes, revitalize his knowledge, and lift up his soul.
These are few facts of bygone days worth knowing to a visitor to the City of Love.
» The cathedral's overall state suffered during the French Revolution in the late 1790s. As a result, in 1802, she was scheduled for demolition. Napoleon thought it would be shamful to bring her beauty and her historic value down. His strong opposition saved the gallant, majestic, and impossing Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris from demolition.
» There was another influence. It was Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" with his story of Quasimodo ~the hunchback bell-ringer whose job was to ring the bell~ who fell in love with a gipsy princess. That story truly touched the heart of French people.
» Since those days, the bell's tone still is pure. The reason is believed to be because of the gold and silver jewellery thrown by Parisian women into the molten bronze when the bell was recast during the 17th. century.
» At the beginning of WWII, it was feared that German bombers could destroy all her stained glass windows. They were removed along with the Rose Window which was the biggest window in the world when it was built back in the medieval years of the 13th. century. All windows were saved, and at the end of the war, they were restored.
There are other facts of present days worth learning about.
» When climbing up her Bell Tower spiral staircase, we are impacted by her gigantic 13 tons bell. As we continue up, we are presented with the famous Notre Dame Gargoyles on the outside of the building. Once at the top, we are exposed to such experience that leaves anyone breathless and stunned with expansive, spectacular, and striking view of the City of Love.
» One street away from the cathedral is "Musée de Notre Dame" where one of her huge organs is displayed along with music scores from the days of Louis Vierne, a famous Notre Dame organist. It is worth experiencing all of it.
» In front of the cathedral, there is a plaque put in place by André Michelin founder of a well-known Michelin Tire Company which also owns BFGoodrich and Red & Green Travel Guides. In the XXI century, that plaque is still used to measure all distances in France.
» There is no fee to visit Notre Dame de Paris. There is, however, a charge for a guided tour to venture up the Bell Tower organized by the cathedral's staff. They accommodate visitors with limited mobility. There are tours in different languages including English on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Since tours may be canceled ~and their schedule changed~ call Information Desk to verify: +33(0) 142 345 610
If you wonder what to do in Paris, a visit to sites of this caliber is mandatory. What to do in Paris is not hard when visiting sites of majestic grandeur. Such a gallant, imposing, and truly fine example of French Gothic architecture with vast and fascinating history is a must-visit site in Paris; but she is more suitable to cultured visitors and appropriate to those who are more refined.
About Author Mr. George Josserme
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