Notre-Dame Cathedral

Welcome to the very center of the French soul. I am your guide and it is a profound honor to stand with you here on the Ile de la Cite where the history of Paris was born more than two thousand years ago. …

As you stand before this towering wall of stone you are witnessing the pinnacle of Gothic architecture. This western facade was designed to be a grand visual Bible for a medieval population that could not read communicating the…

The moment you step through the bronze doors the sheer scale and luminosity of the interior will take your breath away. If you have visited Notre Dame before you will notice an immediate and staggering difference. …

As you move into the north transept prepare to gaze upon one of the greatest treasures of the medieval world. Here stands the North Rose Window a monumental circle of glass thirteen meters in diameter that has occupied this space…

We now stand in the choir the liturgical heart and the most sacred sanctuary of Notre Dame. This area bore the brunt of the falling debris when the spire collapsed sending tons of lead and oak crashing onto the floor yet it has…

Turning to the south transept you will feel a dramatic shift in the atmosphere. While the north was cool and sapphire the South Rose Window envelops you in a glow of warm reds burnt oranges and regal purples. …

Cast your eyes upward toward the west entrance where the true voice of Notre Dame resides. The Great Organ with its staggering eight thousand pipes is one of the most legendary musical instruments in existence. …

As you step back into the open air and feel the gentle breeze from the Seine take a moment to walk along the southern riverside. Look back at the cathedral and marvel at the flying buttresses stretching out like the graceful legs…