Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed in 1345. It is famous not only for Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name but also as the oldest and most magnificent Catholic church in Paris. In *The Hunchback of Notre-Dame*, it is referred to as a “symphony in stone.” This massive Gothic stone structure has stood for over eight hundred years, making it the oldest, largest, and most outstanding Catholic church in Paris, and it holds epoch-making significance in the history of European architecture.

The cathedral has a square-shaped body and a solemn demeanor. Its western facade is divided into three levels, standing 69 meters high. The ground level features three side-by-side pointed arch doorways: the left is the Door of the Virgin, the right the Door of St. Anne, and the central one the Last Judgment. The doors are covered with carvings depicting biblical stories. Above the arches are long niches housing statues of the 28 Kings of Judah and Israel.

The cathedral's apse was built starting in 1370. It not only serves as the terminal of the entire structure but also creates a dynamic effect that influences every part of the architecture—from the pointed ribbed vaults to the ribbed framework—embodying this sense of motion.

The cathedral is located on the Île de la Cité in the city center. Its towers offer the best panoramic views of Paris, with sights including the Seine River and the Centre Pompidou National Art and Culture Center.

Transportation: Metro Line 4, Cité Station.

Admission | Opening Hours: Free entry to the cathedral; tower access costs €5.5, €3.5 for seniors, students, and youths aged 18–25, free for those under 18, and free on the first Sunday of each month.

Opening Hours:

Cathedral: Monday to Friday 8:00–18:45, Saturday and Sunday 8:00–19:45;

Tower: October to March 10:00–17:30, April to June and September 9:30–19:30, July to August 9:00–22:00

France, Paris