Notre Dame Cathedral ,Paris

le de la City is one of the two natural islands on Seine river within the city of Paris and it is on the eastern half of le de la City stands the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral. Famous as one of the finest example of Gothic French architecture, Notre Dame Cathedral is still considered as

the seat of Archbishop of Paris.

Facts About Notre Dame Cathedral

 

• In 1163 A.D, Bishop Maurice de Sully made the endeavour of the construction of a cathedral after he took the title of Bishop of Paris.

• Legend has it that de Sully made the design of the new cathedral on the soil outside the earlier Parisian church after he had a vision of the glorious cathedral.


• During the reign of Louis VII, construction started in 1163 and it took around 180 years for the completion of the work.


• There is a debate whether the foundation stone was laid by Maurice de Sully or Pople Alexander III ; however both were present in the ceremony.

 

 

 

Many architects had their contribution as it is evident from the different styles of design on the west front and towers. Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the earliest example of buildings having flying buttresses or exterior supports. Originally, there was no plan of making the flying buttresses but later they were needed to be build to support the walls. Made in a Gothic architectural style, the cathedral is adorned with portals, paintings, sculptures and rose windows.

Over the centuries, the cathedral saw number of organs to be installed among which first noteworthy one was made in the early eighteenth century by well

known builder Clicquot. Later, Aristide Cavaille-Col almost completely rebuilt and expanded the organ. In 1992, the organ was completely restored and has been made fully computerized.

 

More on Notre Dame Cathedral

 

• Number of times, Notre Dame had fallen prey to vandalism and plunder of the people.

• In 1548, considerable damage was done by the rioting Huguenots. During the rule of Louis XIV and Louis XV, there was renovation of the church when the previously made tombs and glass windows were destroyed.


• During French Revolution, many of the treasures of Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris was plundered or destroyed by the revolutionaries.

The statues of biblical characters on the west front was thought to be that of the kings and in the frenzy of revolution those statues were brought down. The revolutionaries dedicated the cathedral to Cult of Reason and then to Cult of the Supreme Being. In some of the altars, Virgin Mary was replaced with Lady Liberty and it was used as the warehouse to store food.

 

From mid 1840s architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugne Viollet-le-Duc started the restoration program of the cathedral which lasted for around 25 years. New features like fleche, chimeras were added to the building. In 1871, Notre Dame Cathedral again was attacked by the rebels during the Paris Commune but fortunately it remained unscathed.

From 1991, an extensive restoration program has been initiated and it still continues. However, Notre Dame Cathedral remains open to the tourists coming from all across the globe to view this stunning specimen of architectural grandeur and magnificence.

 

Visiting Timings

 

• Cathedral is open everyday from 8.00 am to 6.45 pm


• Due to heavy rush on saturday and sunday cathedral is open till 7.15 pm

 

Mass Service Timings

 

1. Service Times on Weekdays from Monday to Saturday noon
   • 8:00 am : mass in the choir
   • 9:00 am : mass* in the choir
   • 12:00 pm : mass at the main altar
   • 5:45 pm : vespers service
   • 6:15 pm : mass at the main altar



2. Service times on Saturday Evening
   • 5:45 pm : first vespers services
   • 6:30 pm : mass at the main altar



3. Service Times on Sunday
   • 8:30 am : mass
   • 9:30 am : lauds service
   • 10:00 am : gregorian mass at the cathedral chapter
   • 11:30 am : international mass
   • 12:45 pm : mass
   • 5:45 pm : vespers service
   • 6:30 pm : mass (usually by the archbishop)
   On Sunday all services are held at main altar .