Like most people from my generation who grew up watching Disney movies religiously, I was always enchanted by Notre Dame Cathedral from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. If by some strange reason you do not know the story, it is about a deformed bell-ringer (the Hunchback) who must find his independence from the cruel government minister in order to help his friend the gypsy dancer, Esmeralda. Most people would go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, I went to see Notre Dame.
Notre Dame de Paris, ‘Our Lady of Paris’, was completed in 1345 and is considered one of the finest displays of French Gothic architecture. In the 1790s the cathedral was badly damaged during the French revolution. Thanks to extensive restoration in 1845 and continuous maintenance we are able to enjoy her beauty in this present day.
Visiting Notre Dame
I recommend planning ahead if you intend on seeing her in one day. The line up to go up the bell tower can be a strenuous wait if you do not go bright and early. They only let a number of people in at a time, as the staircase is very narrow and only one way. If possible, look up the times for their services and visit when one is on. When we visited they had a service running. Listening to the soulful hymns from the priests while wandering breathlessly through the cathedral is something magical.
When we visited we did not plan ahead and ended up coming back the next morning to line up for the bell towers. Why not go earlier and have breakfast at one of the lovely cafes across from the cathedral? I recommend the breakfast special at A l’Ombre de Notre Dame. The coffee, bread and jam, as well as the crepes are delicious.
The bell towers and Gargoyles
If you have not watched ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ before visiting I would like to encourage you to go ahead and watch it, so you can experience feeling the story come to life.
With every step up the 387 steps to the top of the several spiraling staircases you can image that story coming to life. You can feel the history all around you and can not help but wonder what secrets lay within the walls. Once you finish climbing your way to the top, you are treated to the most breathtaking views of Paris. The very famous Gargoyles and Grotesques keep an endless watch over the beautiful city.
I found each gargoyle and grotesque fascinating to look at. Each one different and some more hideously posed than the next. While staring out over their city with them I could not help but feel envious over their eternal view and the view Quasimodo spent his life looking at.
At the end of this length of the roof, you are then able to make your way to see the most famous bell of Notre Dame. It is the biggest bell I have ever seen.
The reward at the end of the bell tower experience is a 360 degree panorama of spectacular views of Paris.
There is no better feeling than crossing off something special from your childhood. What is your childhood dream place to visit?
On April 15, 2019, a fire ravaged and damaged Notre Dame Cathedral, causing its entire roof to collapse. We were deeply saddened, along with the rest of the world to hear this. The Cathedral will be repaired to its original appearance, overseen by UNESCO, however this will likely take years. As such, Notre Dame Cathedral will be closed for a long time. If you visit Paris, please still come by and visit this beautiful place, if only seen from the outside. One day, she will be rebuilt, and her bells will ring throughout Paris once more.
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