Lonely Planet Pocket Paris (Travel Guide) by Planet Lonely & Le Nevez Catherine

Author:Planet, Lonely & Le Nevez, Catherine [Planet, Lonely]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Published: 2015-06-30T21:00:00+00:00

Understand

Notre Dame Timeline

1160 The Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, ordered the demolition of the original cathedral, the 4th-century Saint-Étienne (St Stephen’s).

1163 Notre Dame’s cornerstone was laid and construction began on the new cathedral.

1182 The apse and choir were completed.

Early 1200s Work commenced on the western façade.

1225 The western façade was completed.

1250 Work finished on the western towers and north rose window.

Mid-1200s To ‘modernise’ the cathedral, the transepts were remodelled in the rayonnant style.

1345 The cathedral was completed.

1548 Huguenots stormed and damaged the cathedral following the Council of Trent.

1793 Damage during the most radical phase of the French Revolution saw many of Notre Dame’s treasures plundered or destroyed.

1845–64 Following petitions to save the by then derelict cathedral from demolition, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc carried out extensive repairs and architectural additions.

1991 A lengthy maintenance and restoration program was initiated.

2013 Notre Dame celebrates 850 years since construction began.

The Bees

Since spring 2013 a beehive has been set up on the cathedral's roof near Square Jean XXIII, with the aim of preserving biodiversity and remembering 'the beauty of creation and the responsibility of Man towards her'.

The Portals

On the western façade, check out the exquisite detail of its three 13th-century portals: the Portal of the Virgin, on the left, depicting Mary’s ascension to heaven; the Portal of the Last Judgement, in the centre, representing the Last Judgement according to the Gospel of Saint Matthew; and the oldest, the Portal of Saint Anne, on the right.

The Organ

Notre Dame’s splendid organ is one of the largest in the world, with 7800 pipes (900 of which have historical classification), 111 stops, five 56-key manuals and a 32-key pedalboard. It’s played during Sunday services and free recitals at 4.30pm on Sundays.

Services

All religious services are conducted in French except the ‘international’ mass held at 11.30am on Sunday, which includes some readings and prayer in English; there are no English-only services. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is a particularly popular occasion. Service times are posted on the cathedral’s website.

Evening Concerts

From October to June the cathedral stages evening concerts; check the program online at www.musique-sacree-notredamedeparis.fr.

Landmark Occasions

Historic events that have taken place at Notre Dame include Henry VI of England’s 1431 coronation as King of France, the 1558 marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Dauphin Francis (later Francis II of France), the 1804 coronation of Napoleon I by Pope Pius VII and the 1909 beatification and 1920 canonisation of Joan of Arc.

Point Zéro

Notre Dame is the heart of Paris – so much so that distances from Paris to the rest of mainland France are measured from place du Parvis Notre Dame, the square in front of the cathedral. A bronze star marks the precise location of point zéro des routes de France.

Archaeological Crypt

The archaeological crypt beneath place du Parvis Notre Dame, the Crypte Archéologique du Parvis Notre Dame ( GOOGLE MAP ; http://crypte.paris.fr; 7 Parvis Notre Dame, 4e; admission €4/3; h10am-6pm Tue-Sun; mCité) reveals the Île de la Cité's history layer by layer, from the Gallo-Roman town of Lutetia to the 20th century, including a few of the original sewers sunk by Haussman.

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