Take a look inside Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and learn about interesting facts that you probably did not know!
It’s Sunday on my fourth day in Paris, and I was really excited to attend the mass at Notre-Dame de Paris to give thanks to The Lord for all the blessings! My previous post about Notre-Dame only discussed about the bell towers, but this time I will show how it looks like inside and list some interesting facts about Notre-Dame.
10 Interesting Facts
1. Notre-Dame de Paris is on an island
In the map above, you can easily see that Notre-Dame de Paris is located on an island. It’s called Île de la Cité, usually referred to as the heart of Paris, one of two remaining natural islands in Paris.
2. It has French Gothic architecture
Built between 1163 and 1345, the Notre Dame cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.
3. The church has three organs
The great organ, the choir organ and a positive organ, all contribute to the beauty of the services.
4. Notre-Dame has medieval stained glass windows
Some of the stained glass windows of Notre-Dame date back to as early as 13th century. The stained glass shows the heavy influence of naturalism.
5. Notre-Dame’s dimensions
41 meters wide, 43 meters high up to the base of the towers, 63 m up to the top of the towers.
6. Statue of the first bishop of Paris
There is a statue of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, at the entrance among other saints.
7. The Hunchback of Notre Dame centers its story here
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a novel written by Victor Hugo, centers its story on this cathedral. But it’s good to note that all the film and TV adaptations have somewhat strayed from the original plot.
8. Notre Dame has five large bells
There are five large bells at Notre Dame that were traditionally rung by hand. In the 20th century, electric motors were installed.
9. Relics at the Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame de Paris houses some of the most important relics of Catholicism: Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross and one of the Holy Nails.
10. Notre Dame is open all year round
Tourists can visit the cathedral any day of the year. It opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 6:45 pm on weekdays and 7:15 PM on weekends.