Notre Dame and St. Chapelle on the Ile de la Cite:
The Paris metro is a fast and ideal way to travel from one neighborhood to another.
During rush hour, the trains are packed butt-to-butt with Parisians going to and from work.
Mornings are interesting. It is not unusual to see fresh loaves of bread jutting out of backpacks like swords.
Everyone in our group wore ear plugs. Our guide used these to give us instructions - when to board and when to get off.
No one was ever left behind. If anyone missed the train, we waited at the next metro stop until everyone arrived.
Photos of the Paris subway are shown below.
During rush hour, the trains are packed butt-to-butt with Parisians going to and from work.
Mornings are interesting. It is not unusual to see fresh loaves of bread jutting out of backpacks like swords.
Everyone in our group wore ear plugs. Our guide used these to give us instructions - when to board and when to get off.
No one was ever left behind. If anyone missed the train, we waited at the next metro stop until everyone arrived.
Photos of the Paris subway are shown below.
Ile de la Cite:
It was a short ride on the metro from our hotel to the Ile de la Cite, one of two remaining river islands in the Seine.
Being the location where the medieval city of Paris was originally founded, it is the center of Paris.
On the Place du Parvis de Notre Dame, the square right in front of the Cathedral, there is an engraved plate with an eight-pointed star/compass imbedded in the cobblestones that reads: "Point Zero des Routes de France" (Point Zero of French roads).
It is from this point that all distances to and from Paris are measured.
Being the location where the medieval city of Paris was originally founded, it is the center of Paris.
On the Place du Parvis de Notre Dame, the square right in front of the Cathedral, there is an engraved plate with an eight-pointed star/compass imbedded in the cobblestones that reads: "Point Zero des Routes de France" (Point Zero of French roads).
It is from this point that all distances to and from Paris are measured.
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris:
Notre Dame, a medieval Catholic cathedral consecrated to the Virgin Mary, is the most visited monument in Paris.
It is considered to be the finest example of French Gothic architecture.
The stone carvings over the three doors/portals at the front of the cathedral are elaborately detailed.
The center door, the Portal of the Last Judgement, is shown below. It is the largest of the three.
The two side ones are smaller in size but of equal proportion.
Collectively, the front face of the cathedral with its twin towers is stunning.
It is considered to be the finest example of French Gothic architecture.
The stone carvings over the three doors/portals at the front of the cathedral are elaborately detailed.
The center door, the Portal of the Last Judgement, is shown below. It is the largest of the three.
The two side ones are smaller in size but of equal proportion.
Collectively, the front face of the cathedral with its twin towers is stunning.
We were not able to go inside because of the April 2019 fire. A side view of the Cathedral of Notre Dame is shown at left. It shows the scaffolding along the side of the church where repairs are being made. The church is blocked off to visitors for safety reasons. The cathedral is easy to see, though, from the banks of the Seine. |
Sainte Chapelle:
We visited the nearby church of St. Chapelle with its thorn-like spire , 40' tall stained-glass windows, and Gothic style interior.
This "Holy Chapel" was built by King Louis IX to house his collection of precious Christian relics - which were to have included the
Crown of Thorns (later moved to Notre Dame) and a piece of the True Cross. The church consists of two chapels:
the upper chapel with its magnificent stained-glass windows was used by the king and the royal family;
the lower chapel served as a parish church for the residents of the palace.
In total, there are 15 glass panels depicting 1113 scenes from the Old and New Testament.
While photos fail to capture the beauty of this sacred space, several are included to spark one's imagination.
The first of two photos show the main altar and one of its stained glass windows;
the lower set a statue of St. Louis (the only French King to be canonized), and an example of its Gothic-style interior.
This "Holy Chapel" was built by King Louis IX to house his collection of precious Christian relics - which were to have included the
Crown of Thorns (later moved to Notre Dame) and a piece of the True Cross. The church consists of two chapels:
the upper chapel with its magnificent stained-glass windows was used by the king and the royal family;
the lower chapel served as a parish church for the residents of the palace.
In total, there are 15 glass panels depicting 1113 scenes from the Old and New Testament.
While photos fail to capture the beauty of this sacred space, several are included to spark one's imagination.
The first of two photos show the main altar and one of its stained glass windows;
the lower set a statue of St. Louis (the only French King to be canonized), and an example of its Gothic-style interior.
The main altar of Sainte Chapelle. One section of a stained glass windows in Sainte Chapelle.
Palais de Justice:
The Palais de Justice functions as the courthouse of Paris, which is also located on the Il de la Cite.
A photo of the front side of the courthouse is shown because it reflects the main themes of the French Revolution:
LIBERTE, EGALITE, and FRATERNITE.
A photo of the front side of the courthouse is shown because it reflects the main themes of the French Revolution:
LIBERTE, EGALITE, and FRATERNITE.