Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris. Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris), description, photo! Notre Dame musical in French

The tragedy of all of France. As a result of the fire, the spire, clock and roof of the building collapsed. Firefighters managed to save both bell towers of the cathedral, the flames did not touch the main shrines: the crown of thorns, the tunic of St. Louis; several paintings were saved. According to the firefighters, the source of ignition was the scaffolding erected in the attic of the cathedral. Recall that restoration work began in the spring of this year, it was planned to complete the work by 2022. The fire started at 18:50 local time on April 15, as of April 16, the fire was extinguished. One firefighter was injured during the rescue operation.

Results of the fire

The French president and his wife arrived at the scene and promised to completely restore the relic, with the assistance of "the best talents of our time." There is hope for a complete restoration, since the cathedral has been thoroughly studied, ancient drawings have been preserved.

According to preliminary estimates, the damage will cost hundreds of millions of euros. Today, the Heritage Foundation announced the start of a national campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the cathedral, according to the latest data, 240 people donated more than 6 thousand euros to the Foundation.

According to preliminary estimates, the restoration of the building may take at least 10 years.

At the moment, all residents have been evacuated from the Cite Island; for security reasons, navigation along the Seine in the vicinity of the island is prohibited.

The Paris prosecutor's office is investigating the unintentional damage caused by the fire.

Notre Dame Cathedral - Notre-Dame de Paris

Each country has objects - associations. In Paris, in my opinion, there are two of them - and Notre Dame Cathedral. To visit Paris and not see (at least!) These two masterpieces of architectural thought is a real crime.

More than 14 million tourists annually visit this place, which keeps unsolved secrets and mystical revelations.

A place of "incredible power" - this is what the Parisian guides call the cathedral, who introduce people to its history and architecture. And legends add a mystical spirit to the object.

Photos of the cathedral

• Notre Dame is built on the site where four different churches stood in ancient times: the Christian Parish, the Merovingian Basilica, the Carolingian Temple and the Romanesque Cathedral. By the way, it was the ruins of the last cathedral that served as the foundation for the current one.
• The construction lasted 182 years (1163-1345). After 19 years of construction work, the main altar appeared, which was immediately consecrated, after another 14 years, the construction of the nave was completed. Then construction continued on the territory of the central (western) facade, which is richly decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs.
• The western facade and two towers were built for 45 years (1200-1245). The different heights of the towers are explained by the fact that many architects worked on the construction, who mixed two styles - Romanesque and Gothic.
• In the summer of 1239, King Louis IX brought into the temple the main shrine and relic - the Crown of Thorns.
• Gargoyles at the top of Notre Dame Cathedral used to be used as drainpipes - now they are one of the decorations of the building.
• Instead of the usual wall paintings depicting saints, there are tall stained-glass windows, which are both an adornment of the cathedral and a source of light. Stained-glass windows were used to separate the premises, since at the end of the construction there was not a single wall in the cathedral. Instead of walls, there were columns and arches.
• After the completion of construction, the cathedral was the main spiritual hearth of France - royal weddings, coronations, funerals and other important events on a national scale were held here. Despite the important role of the cathedral in the life of the country, its walls also accepted the commoner who received assistance.
• The rich trusted the walls of the cathedral and brought all their treasures for safekeeping. This is how the treasury was formed within the walls of the temple.
• During the French Revolution, the Jacobins wanted to destroy the cathedral, but the residents managed to save it - they collected money in support of the rebels and transferred it to the new government. Despite the agreement, the revolutionaries did not fully keep their promise - the bells were melted down into cannons, the tombstones into bullets, the sculptures of the Jewish kings were beheaded. The building of the cathedral was used as a wine warehouse - it was during this period that Notre Dame lost its significance. The Catholic church was returned to the clergy only in 1802.
• Thanks to the famous novel by Victor Hugo "Notre Dame Cathedral" (1831), where the writer set out to awaken the love of French architecture among the people, in 1841 the restoration of the cathedral began. The famous gallery of chimeras appeared on the upper platform in front of the towers. The sculptors created images of mythical creatures that embodied the character of man and the diversity of his mood. The restoration lasted 23 years, during which the restorers were able to replace all broken sculptures, erect a high spire, and restore stained glass windows. The buildings that adjoined the cathedral were removed, due to which a square appeared in front of the main entrance.
• In 2013, in honor of the 850th anniversary of the cathedral, 9 new bells were cast. The largest church organ in France, which appeared here at the beginning of the 15th century, was also reconstructed. Now the instrument is fully computerized, while the body is made in the style of Louis XVI.
• Today, Notre-Dame-de-Paris is a functioning church: services are constantly held here, during which modern video effects are used. Bells can be heard ringing daily at 8:00 and 19:00.
• Along with the believers, tourists are also admitted to the cathedral. All visitors have a unique opportunity to view sacred relics, as well as valuable things that have accumulated in the cathedral over its long history.

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sights

Here you will find more detailed information about the objects of the cathedral. This information will be useful for general information.

Apse - Chevet

From the Promenade de Tournel you can see the apse with its retaining arches and gray-green vault. It is located in the eastern chati, symbolizing the sunrise of the Resurrection.

Traditionally, the apse side serves to collect internal rhythmic currents and the highest divine energy of the cosmos.

Thanks to the special design, the impression of the presence of God among people is created. After the restoration of the cathedral, the arches were replaced by the project of Jean Ravi. Today the size of the arches reaches 15 meters.

From the south side, you can see what the cathedral looked like in the 19th century. Previously, there was the archbishop's palace, which was demolished along with the treasury and sacristy during the riots of 1831. It was decided not to restore the palace.

Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher - Chapelle des Chevaliers du Saint-Sépulcre

In the heart of the cathedral is the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, which was officially opened on March 6, 2009. The ceremony was presided over by Monsignor Toile, Patriarch of Latin from Jerusalem. The restoration of the chapel was carried out in accordance with the wishes of Cardinal Lustiger and his successor, Cardinal Ven-Trois.

Within these walls, in a modern red glass reliquary, lies the most precious treasure - the crown of thorns of Christ wrapped in a purple robe. The sacred crown is a bunch of intertwined thorny branches without thorns, which in ancient times were disassembled in various temples and monasteries, with additionally woven into it several branches of the aromatic plant ziziphus.

It is enclosed in a crystal ring with a gold setting. It is impossible to say with certainty that the crown of Christ is genuine, but the first mention of it is documented in the 4th century.

Most of the time, the holy crown is kept in a special depository and is not displayed. For the worship of believers, it is solemnly carried out every Friday during Great Lent and on Good Friday. The ceremony is attended by the knights of the Holy Sepulcher.

Behind the reliquary, on the altar, is a statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, who holds in her hands the nails and a crown that wounded the legs, arms and head of her son.

Chapel of the Holy Gifts - Chapelle du Saint-Sacrement

Next to the Chapel of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, in the axis of the nave, there is another unusual chapel. It is called the Chapel of the Holy Gifts and is dedicated to the mother of Jesus Christ, which is often found in churches of the era of Michelangelo.

Its construction began in 1296 at the initiative of the Bishop of Paris Simon Matthias de Boucher. This chapel is also known as Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. It serves for meditation and sacred prayers of the sacred ordinance.

On the right wall, you can see an old 14th century fresco depicting a girl receiving her soul in the presence of Saint Denis and Saint Nikes, who is the patron saint of the chapel.

On the altar of the chapel, crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Gifts are exhibited throughout the day, that is, bread that has become the body of Christ, symbolizing the presence of God himself. Adoration or worship of the Holy Gifts is widespread in the traditions of the Catholic Church. People come here singly or in groups in order to silently contemplate God, just to be in front of him, to mentally talk to him in peace and quiet, detached from the daily hustle and bustle.

Pietà - Pietà

In the depths of the temple, in the most prominent place of the central nave, there is an altar. Behind it, at a short distance, appears the famous "Pieta" - a sculptural composition by Nicolas Custu. At its foot is a carved plinth by François Girardon.

In the center is the Virgin Mary holding her dead son in her arms, who has just been taken down from the cross. The gaze of the Mother of God is directed not to the lifeless body of Jesus, but to heaven. Her face expresses sorrow and, at the same time, the hope for the resurrection of Christ, promised to her from above. On the sides of the Virgin Mary are statues of two monarchs: the right one - Louis XIII (sculptor Nicolas Couste) and the left one - Louis XIV (sculptor Antoine Kuazevox).

At the same time, King Louis XIII, as it were, offers the mother of Christ his crown and scepter, and his son Louis XIV bowed in prayer. This unusual ensemble is surrounded by six bronze angels holding in their hands the symbols of the Passion of Christ: a crown of thorns, nails, a sponge with vinegar, a whip, a pike and an INRI tablet (Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews).

The background to the appearance of the statues is also noteworthy. Longing for the long-awaited birth of his future heir, Louis XIII vowed to embellish the altar and Pieta if the Lord would send him a son. His dream came true in 1638 with the birth of Louis XIV, but 5 years later the king died without fully fulfilling his promise. His successor managed to realize his father's will only 60 years later, when, as a result of a large-scale reconstruction, the Gothic style was replaced by the Baroque.

Dispensary - Déambulatoire

In ecclesiastical terminology, "ambulance" refers to a semicircular walk along the altar apse, which is the end of the central nave. It looks like a continuation of the side naves, smoothly merging into each other.

In Notre Dame Cathedral, a double ambulance station is divided by a colonnade and has access to the outer apse chapels (chapels). There are five of them in total, and they radiate around the altar ledge, forming a "crown of chapels". All of them are dedicated to various saints and are decorated with beautiful statues and stained-glass windows, which are real works of art. They also contain mausoleums, tombs and tombstones of many prominent religious figures and other famous personalities. For example, near the eastern wall of the initial apse chapel, dedicated to Saint Guillaume (William), is the mausoleum of Count Henri Claude d'Arcourt (1704-1769), who served as a lieutenant general in the royal army. The sculptural composition depicts the deceased count who, hearing the cries of his kneeling wife at his tomb, rises and, freed from the shroud, stretches out his hands to his devoted wife.

But behind the back of the deceased is Death itself with an hourglass in hand, showing the countess that her hour has come. The entire image of the Countess expresses a passionate desire to immediately reunite with her beloved spouse.

This architectural ensemble was built in the late XIII - early XIV centuries. In the course of a full-scale restoration, led in the 19th century by the famous Parisian architect Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, the entire ambulatory space was decorated with original murals, recreated with amazing historical accuracy. That is why an unusually spiritual and enthusiastic atmosphere reigns here.

Altar - Choeur

In the middle of the central nave is an unusual medieval altar. On both sides of it there are carved scenes, imprinted in stone, called the altar barrier. It appeared in the cathedral in the XIV century, when a master, presumably Jean Ravi, carved out of stone an elegant partition that isolates the choir (choir) from the nave. Scenes from the Gospel in sculptural performance are consistently depicted on the barrier. All paintings are made in polychrome colors. In the middle of the 19th century, restoration work was also carried out here under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc, then the color scheme was renewed.

Behind the altar, on a significant dais, there are long lancet windows lined with stained glass windows of the 19th century, replacing the original lost mosaics of the 13th century.

The reconstruction of the choir was conceived even during the reign of Louis XIII, as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, who gave France the long-awaited heir to Louis XIV in 1638. Since this period, every year on August 15, on the Assumption - the main church holiday dedicated to Mary - the procession solemnly floats through the streets of Paris, as a reminder of the "royal vow". Five years after the birth of his son, Louis XIII, on his deathbed, bequeathed to his successor to complete all the renovations of the altar.

The restoration work was completed in 1723. This took three quarters of a century. The upper rows were then crowned with wooden sculptures that depicted scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.

Northern part of the barrier - Clôture du choeur nord

The altar barrier, created at the end of the 13th century, covers 14 scenes from the Bible, vividly telling about the birth and life of Jesus Christ, with the exception of the tragic events that happened after the Last Supper - the imprisonment, trial, scourging and crucifixion of Christ. Biblical scenes are depicted sequentially.

The storyline begins with the immaculate Virgin Mary meeting righteous Elizabeth, then the Nativity of Christ and the good news to the shepherds follow, the Magi offer their gifts. The following is a picture of the killing of babies and the flight to Egypt.

Scenes from the life of Christ are selected, such as the meeting of the infant Jesus with the wise elder Simeon in the temple of Jerusalem, the stories of how the young Jesus was in the temple among the wise men and among the Jewish teachers, Baptism and wedding in Cana of Galilee. The final episodes are the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and the washing of the feet of the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Three masters have worked on these sculptural compositions for half a century - Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravi and Jean Le Boutuyler. Most of the scenes have a reliable time sequence, verified in the four Gospels. The color scheme of the altar barrier was renewed during the 19th century restoration.

South part of the barrier - Clôture du choeur sud

The altar wall dates back to the beginning of the XIV century. It is composed of nine biblical scenes describing the appearances of Jesus Christ after the Resurrection from the dead. Each biblical story on the south side is clearly separated from the following by a vertical line.

• Meeting of Christ and Mary Magdalene.
• The Appearance of Christ to Myrrh-Bearing Wives.
• Meeting of Christ with the apostles John and Peter.
• Meeting of Christ with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
• The appearance of Christ to the eleven apostles at the evening.
• The Appearance of Christ to the Apostle Thomas.

• Meeting of Christ with the disciples at Lake Tiberias.
• The appearance of Christ to the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee.
• The meeting of Christ with the apostles in Jerusalem is the last phenomenon, culminating in the ascension of Christ to heaven.

From 1300 to 1350, Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravi and Jean Le Boutuyler worked on the creation of this unique sculptural group. The color scheme was subsequently updated by the restorers Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

Treasury of the Trésor

The Temple Treasury is located in a small annex building. Here you will find an interesting collection of old gold and silver items, church utensils, priests' clothes, ancient manuscripts and other sacred relics from the 13th to the 21st centuries. But of particular value are the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ and the Palatine Reliquary Cross, where a nail is kept under glass in the lower part, and in the upper part there are seven particles of the Life-giving Cross. A golden tablet in Greek says that originally these relics belonged to the 12th century Byzantine emperor Michael Comnenus.

Some of the treasures are brought out to the public on the first Friday of every month, every Friday of Great Lent, and on Holy Week.

The collection of relics of Notre Dame Cathedral began to collect from its very inception, and by the end of the 18th century, the temple treasury was considered one of the most magnificent in Europe. During the French Revolution, some of the treasures were plundered, but at the dawn of the Concordat, the collection was rebuilt and replenished with relics from the Sainte-Chapelle treasury.

Once again, the storage was damaged during the riots of 1830 and 1831, and was restored in the middle of the 19th century according to the project of Viollet-le Duc. But, despite all the difficulties, the treasury retained its original purpose for storing valuable objects used in the liturgy.

Red Door - Porte Rouge

This modest doorway on the north side of the choir is called the "Red Door" due to the vibrant color of its doors. It was erected under the direction of the architect Pierre de Montreuil in the second half of the 13th century and was used as a direct passage between the cloister and the cathedral. The red door connected the monastery, where the canons and choristers lived, with Notre Dame de Paris. In 2012, this gate was rebuilt at the initiative of the Ile-de-France Historical Monuments Conservation Society.

On the tympanum above the door is a scene of Christ's blessing of the Virgin Mary, while an angel places the royal crown on her head. The upper part depicts Saint-Marseille, bishop of Paris in the 5th century. His remains are considered one of the most precious shrines of the cathedral and rest on the top of the cathedral choirs in full view of all parishioners.

On the left, above the doorway, there is a sculptural panel about how the bishop conducts the ceremony of baptism and holy communion - two most important sacraments for Christians of all denominations. On the right side, he sits in the pulpit, preaching. His face expresses spiritual triumph over the devil.

Notre Dame Statue - Vierge à l'Enfant "Notre Dame de Paris"

At the southeast pillar of the transept or transverse nave, to the right of the main altar, you can see a statue of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms. She is called Our Lady of Paris. The statue was brought in the 19th century from the Saint-Aignan chapel on the Ile de la Cité.

This is the most famous and revered sculptural image of the Virgin Mary of the 27 such statues displayed in Notre Dame. The period of its creation dates back to the XIV century. Installed in 1855 instead of the ancient sculpture of the miraculous Black Virgin, which disappeared without a trace during the years of the revolution.

A bluish light emanates from the sculpture, and a large number of white lilies, with which the Virgin Mary is adorned, exude an amazing aroma. All this is arranged as a sign of the deepest worship.

Transept

In church architecture, a "transept" is a transverse nave in churches built in the form of a cross or basilica, which intersects the central longitudinal nave at right angles. The extreme boundaries of the transept form apses that extend beyond the main part of the building, the transept protrudes 2 meters. They coincide in height with the main nave, but the transept differs in that it consists of four tiers.

The transept was completed in 1258. Here are located such significant sights as the south and north stained glass rose window, the statue of Notre Dame and the Child, the portal of St. Stephen and the portal of the Red Gate, as well as the main altar. In one of the branches of the transept, you can admire the two female figures of the patron saints of France - Saint Joan of Arc and Saint Teresa, the patroness of the baby Jesus, as well as the statue of Saint Dionysius by Nicolas Couste. Many statues have been recreated as early as the 19th century.

Not far from the statue of the Virgin Mary, there is a plaque that informs that the famous trial took place in this cathedral, which acquitted Jeanne D'Arc. A small bronze plate in the floor informs that the famous poet Paul Claudel adopted the Catholic faith here in 1886.

South window-rose - Rose sud

On the south facade of the transept, there is a huge rose-shaped stained glass window with a diameter of 13 meters. It was originally installed in the 13th century. Some part of the stained glass window has survived to this day in its original form, the rest of the parts were replaced during the restoration work carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The rosette itself consists of 84 stained-glass fragments, which are laid out in the form of four circles: 24 medallions, 12 medallions, 4-part and 3-part panels. It is known that during the reconstruction, which took place in the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc turned the southern rosette by 15 degrees in order to fix it on a solid vertical axis. For this reason, many fragments are not in their original places, and now it is not easy to determine which part of the window was originally occupied by this or that scene.

The stained-glass rose depicts Jesus Christ surrounded by the apostles and other saints, martyrs and wise virgins revered in France.

In the fourth circle, on different fragments, twenty angels are depicted holding wreaths, candles and censers in their hands, and events from the New and Old Testaments are also depicted.

The third circle invites us to get acquainted with nine scenes from the life of St. Matthew, which are dated to the last quarter of the 12th century and have been perfectly preserved to this day.

In the central medallion, the original stained glass fragment has not survived, so Viollet-le-Duc replaced it with an image of the second coming of Christ: a sword is put in the mouth of the Savior, symbolizing the Word of God, which is intended to separate truth from falsehood. At the feet of Christ lies the Book of Life, and around it the symbols of the four evangelists: angel, eagle, lion, calf.

The two lower corner elements tell about the descent into Hell and the resurrection of Christ.

The rose rests on a kind of belt of 16 lancet stained-glass windows, together with which the total height of the stained-glass window reaches 19 meters. These narrow plates depict prophets. It was created in 1861 by the artist Alfred Gerent under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc.

Portal Saint Stephen - Portail Saint-Etienne

On the south side of the transept, facing the embankment of the Seine in the direction of the Latin Quarter, there is a portal, which was consecrated in the name of the martyr St. Stephen. It was built in the 13th century by architects Jean de Chelle and Pierre de Montreuil. In the past, this passage led to the residence of the bishop, the successor of the holy martyr Denis.

The main decoration of the portal is the tympanum, which depicts episodes of the life and martyrdom of Saint Stephen in stone, as well as scenes from the life of students of the University of Paris. Saint Stephen was the patron saint of the first Parisian cathedral.

Examining the sculptural composition from right to left and upward, one can see how Saint Stephen preached before the Jewish authorities and the people, and later appeared before the court, was stoned, buried and blessed by Christ. A notable scene in which two clergymen carry a prayer book and consecrated water after the traditional service. This serves as proof that the same holy traditions have been observed over time.

North Rose Window - Rose nord

On the left side of the main altar, on the north facade of the transept, there is an amazingly beautiful stained glass rose window. It can be called a true High Gothic masterpiece of the 13th century. Unlike the south outlet, this stained glass window has remained virtually intact, as 85% of the mosaics are original work of art by medieval craftsmen.

The northern rose window is located at a height of 21 meters, and its diameter is 13 meters. The subject composition depicts the Virgin and Child surrounded by characters from the Old Testament. In the central part of the stained-glass rosette there is the Virgin Mary with the newborn Jesus in her arms, and around her are medallions with images of judges, prophets, kings and high priests.

The predominance of lilac and violet shades in the color palette of mosaic elements symbolizes a long, anxious night in anticipation of the birth of the Messiah.

The composition of the northern rosette is in a peculiar movement: the fragments of the stained-glass window are not arranged along strict vertical and horizontal lines, thus creating the image of a rotating wheel. Illuminated by the sun's rays, the rose window of the north transept colors the dark walls of the nave with bright colors, filling the inner space of the temple with divine light.

Portal "Red Gate" - Portail du Cloître

The portal on the north side of the transept is called the "Red Gate". Previously, it served as a passage to the cloister, located next to Notre Dame Cathedral.

The central pillar of the portal depicts the Virgin Mother - an authentic statue of the 13th century. It was originally here from the moment of its creation, but the baby, unfortunately, was destroyed. Reminiscent of the famous 14th-century Notre Dame statue installed inside the cathedral, the Virgin of the Portal is still more regal and majestic.

On the tympanum above the gate is a sculptural scene about the coronation of Mary in the presence of King Louis IX of the Saint and Queen Margaret of Provence. Above are scenes from the childhood of Jesus Christ: Christmas, his appearance in the temple, the killing of babies and flight to Egypt.

The archivolts show episodes of miracles that happened to Saints Theophilos and Marseilles. In one of the scenes, Saint Marcel removes the devil in the form of a dragon from the body of a dead sinner. Another shows the divine power of Mary, contained in her son-savior. An impressive story is how Theophilus, having sold his soul to the devil, in order to secure the place of the bishop's successor, later repented and began to pray to the Virgin. And she broke this contract, saving Theophilus from the devil's embrace. In the uppermost part above the portal, there is a bishop telling a story for the edification of believers.

Separate parts of the original statues that adorned these gates - the figures of the Magi and virtues - are exhibited in the Cluny Museum.

Main altar - Autel principal

At the entrance to the choir, there is a raised liturgical platform with a modern bronze altar placed on it by the French sculptors Jean and Sebastian Touré. Its consecration took place in 1989.

Modeled on the cathedral in Chartres, on the sides of the main altar are the figures of the four biblical prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

In front are four evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As conceived by the creators, this sculptural group symbolizes the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Since the Second Council in the Vatican, Mass has been held near the entrance to the choir, with the priest facing the parishioners, as the Pope always did at St. Peter's in Rome.

Side aisles - Bas-côtés

Notre Dame Cathedral, in an architectural sense, is a basilica with galleries and double side aisles, which are divided in half by longitudinal rows of giant columns. These additional rows of pillars transform the three-aisled basilica into a five-aisled one. This feature makes the cathedral a much more valuable architectural monument. In the Middle Ages, Gothic cathedrals with double side naves were not often built; tapestries were simply hung in the openings of the arcades.

On the sides of the naves there are seven chapels, running from the fourth to the tenth aisles. These chapels contain paintings and sculptures on religious themes, which were created to order by the best masters of France. They are presented as a gift to the cathedral every year on the first day of May, following the centuries-old tradition associated with Parisian jewelers. And in one of the chapels, you can see a historical model that clearly demonstrates the progress of the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Nef - Nef

The central nave is an elongated room of ten spans, bounded on both longitudinal sides by a row of columns that separate it from the side naves. The vaults of the nave are 33 meters high and 12 meters wide.

The height of the nave of Notre Dame Cathedral has three levels:

• In the lower tier there are round, polished columns with capitals in the form of elaborate wreaths of acanthus leaves.
• In the second tier, there are arched openings, separated from each other by thin columns.
• On both sides of the third tier, rows of elongated lancet windows were lined up, necessary for the penetration of daylight.

Thanks to this, the ceiling is clearly visible, built in the form of a six-petalled stone vault.

The interior of the nave appears to be much larger than in an ordinary parish church. The creators of the cathedral, thus, tried to recreate the image of the heavenly Jerusalem, which is described in detail in the Bible. The architectural elements of the Gothic style add sophistication and grace to the interior, creating a feeling of touching the heavens, which was not always inherent in the Romanesque architecture of the earlier period.

On both sides of the nave in the choir, there are carved wooden benches from the early 18th century, which depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. They were made specifically as a tribute, in the name of the royal vow of Louis XIII.

A large number of parishioners gather here every day. A mysterious twilight reigns inside the cathedral. In the course of a large-scale restoration, for better illumination, new windows were additionally made in the side walls of the nave.

Grand Organ - Grand orgue

The famous organ of Notre Dame Cathedral is installed under the western rose window. It is not only the largest organ in France, but also one of the largest musical instruments in the entire world. Today the organ consists of 109 registers and about 7,800 pipes.

The organ was first installed in the cathedral in 1402. A new Gothic-style building was specially designed for it. Since this instrument could not completely fill the entire vast space of the cathedral, in 1730 François-Henri Clicquot completed its completion. At the same time, the organ acquired its present body in the style of Louis XVI. In the 1860s, the famous 19th century French organ builder, Aristide Cavaye-Colle, carried out a complete reconstruction of it, and the baroque instrument received an unusual romantic sound. Subsequently, the large organ underwent various reconstructions and replacements several times, but in 1992 the control of the instrument was computerized, and a fiber-optic cable was connected to it.

Many famous names have accompanied this organ over the centuries, including Perotina, the inventor of polyphonic music in the 13th century, Campra, Daken, Armand-Louis Couperin, Cesar Franck, Camille Saint-Saens, and more recently Louis Vierna and Pierre Coshero. The position of titular organist of Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the most prestigious in France.

You can listen to the sound of a large organ completely free of charge every week during Sunday mass.

Rose West Window - Rose ouest

The western rose window is the central stained glass window in Notre Dame de Paris. It was created in 1220 and is the oldest rosette in the cathedral. The stained glass rose appears to be huge, but its diameter is only 9.6 meters, making this mosaic the smallest of the cathedral's three rosettes.

Harmoniously located in the center of the western façade, it consists of three circles around a central medallion depicting the Mother of God and the baby Jesus. In the first belt from the center there are twelve "minor" prophets, followed by 12 agricultural works by seasons, which correspond to 12 signs of the zodiac.

In the upper circle, on the medallions, it is shown how the twelve virtues in the form of warriors armed with spears oppose the twelve vices.

Most of the original mosaic fragments of the western window have not survived to this day, and the stained glass itself was almost completely changed by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. It will also not be possible to fully examine the outlet on the window, since it is partially covered by a large organ.

Western Facade - Façade occidentale

The construction of this facade began during the reign of Bishop Ed de Sully in 1200 as the third architect to work on the construction of the cathedral. This work was continued by his successors, in particular, Guillaume d'Auvergne, and after 1220 the construction was continued by the fourth architect. The North Tower was completed in 1240 and the South Tower in 1250.

The western façade is the epitome of grandeur, simplicity and harmony. Its strength and power is based on the relationship between vertical and horizontal lines. Four powerful buttresses rush to the tops of the towers, lifting them up to heaven. Their symbolic meaning is that this temple is dedicated to God. And two wide horizontal stripes seem to bring the building back to our mortal land, proving that this cathedral belongs to people as well.

The dimensions of the western facade are also impressive: 41 meters wide, 43 meters up to the base of the towers, 63 meters up to the top of the towers.

In the center, next to the Gallery of the Virgin, there is a large rose with a diameter of 9.6 meters, created in 1225, which forms a halo over the head of the statue of the Virgin and Child, which is surrounded by two angels. On both sides of the stone rose, statues of Adam and Eve are installed, which remind us of original sin. They were delivered here at the initiative of Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

Below the balustrade is a wide horizontal frieze called the Gallery of the Kings. Shown here are 28 figures of Jewish kings, the forefathers of Christ. The height of each figure is more than three meters. This sculptural composition indicates that Mary was a mortal woman, representative of the human race, and gave birth to Jesus, who was both man and God. During the 1793 revolution, the stone figures were beheaded, so the 19th century restorers had to restore them. Most of the original surviving heads of the kings are now on display in the Medieval Museum of Cluny.

At the lower level of the façade, there are three large portals, which differ significantly from each other. The central portal is known as the Doomsday Portal and is taller and wider than the rest. To the right of it is the Portal of St. Anne, and to the left is the Portal of the Holy Virgin. The gate wings are decorated with an amazing wrought iron pattern, and the front part of the portals is decorated with the image of many characters. There are 4 statues on the buttresses: on the south side - the figure of the deacon Saint Stephen, on the north side - the Bishop of Saint-Denis, and on the sides of the central portal there are two allegories - a synagogue and a church.

Portal of Saint Anne - Portail Sainte-Anne

The south aisle on the right side of the west facade is called the Portal of Saint Anne, she was the mother of the Virgin Mary. It belongs to the XIII century and is the earliest among other portals.

On the tympanum, in the upper part of it, the Madonna Maesta is depicted, seated on a throne under a canopy. On different sides of it were the angels and the builders of the temple - Bishop Maurice de Sully and the kneeling king Louis VII. These statues were created for the Church of St. Mary, which was previously located on the site of the cathedral, and then they were transferred to the portal. The lower part of the tympanum depicts scenes from the lives of Joachim and Anna.

On the central pillar of the portal between the doors is a statue of Saint Marcel, the Parisian bishop in the 5th century. Saint Marseille was the predecessor of Saint Genevieve. Before the revolution, these two figures were highly revered among the faithful of Parisians. They are renowned for their bold, inventive and effective charity work. In addition, like all true fighters for justice, they were highly spiritual individuals who sacredly observed all the sacraments and prayers.

Doomsday portal - Portail du Jugement

This portal was erected in the years 1220-1230. It is located in the center of the western facade, striking with its magnificent sculptural design. The Last Judgment is presented here as it is described in the Gospel of Matthew.

In the center of the tympanum, Christ is depicted seated on a throne in glory, on both sides of him are angels with the instruments of the Passion and the kneeling figures of John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, who pray for sinners. The city of heaven - New Jerusalem is depicted under the figure of Christ. To the right of it are the figures of the righteous, headed by the Archangel Michael with weights for human souls in their hands. On the other side - devils take sinners to Hell. At the very bottom of the tympanum, the scene of the Resurrection is shown.

The archivolts depict various saints, women and men, who make up the hierarchy of the Heavenly Forces. On the side pilasters near the gates there are figurines of virgins, five on each side, personifying the "Parable of the Ten Virgins".

There is another statue of Christ on the pilaster dividing the portal into two gates. He is surrounded by twelve apostles, six on each side. At their foot, on the portal plinth, virtues and vices are represented in small medallions.

Many of the statues that adorn the Doomsday Portal were destroyed during the revolution and subsequently recreated by Viollet-le-Duc, who returned the western façade to its original appearance.

Portal of the Holy Virgin - Portail de la Vierge

The north portal on the left side of the west facade of Notre Dame Cathedral is called the Portal of the Holy Virgin. It is decorated with statues from the 12th - 13th centuries.

On the central pilaster there is a figure of the Madonna and Child. The tympanum depicts scenes of the Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin Mary.
On one of the sculptural compositions, you can see how the completion of Mary's life on earth took place. The term "dormition" in the Christian dictionary means death. The dead will fall asleep, but on the Last Day Christ will awaken them for the general resurrection, just as the Lord resurrected him on Easter morning. Symbolizing the connection with the Old Testament, the twelve apostles sat at the deathbed of Mary, who laid the Ark of the Covenant, where the tablets of the Covenant are located, which serve as a type of the Holy Virgin, in whom the word became flesh.

Another storyline depicts the scene of the coronation of the Virgin after her resurrection to heaven. She solemnly sits on the royal throne, and the son Jesus blesses her, while the angel puts the crown on Mary's head.

Allegorical figures of twelve months are placed on the side pilasters, and various saints and angels are located on archivolts.

Legends of Notre Dame Cathedral

For many, Notre Dame is a universal reference book of esotericism. And there is nothing surprising in the fact that the majestic structure, which has a long history, like a shroud, is wrapped in countless legends.

The legend of the blacksmith

The legends of the famous cathedral are greeted by Parisians and thousands of tourists right at the gate. The expression “to sell the soul to the devil” is used not in a figurative, but in the literal sense of the word, when it comes to the master who forged the gates for the cathedral.

Thousands of years later, people admire with joyful admiration the magic of intricate designs on the gates. It is hard to believe that such a perfect, incomprehensible beauty could have been created by a person.

At the beginning of the 2nd millennium, Bishop Maurice de Sully planned to build a grandiose cathedral, which was supposed to overshadow everything that existed before with its beauty and grandeur.

The future cathedral was assigned an honorable role: to become the spiritual stronghold of the nation and to contain the population of an entire city. An important mission was entrusted to the blacksmith - to create a gate that would match the beauty and craftsmanship of the greatness of the building being erected.

Birskone fell into anxious doubts. The task that stood before him seemed to him so responsible, and his own skill so insufficient, that he called on supernatural forces for help.

It was not even clear how the master managed to create this masterpiece: whether he used forging or casting to create such complex openwork patterns. But the master himself could not answer anything.

When he came to, he was gloomy, thoughtful and not talkative. When the gates were installed and locks were fixed on them, it turned out that no one, including the blacksmith, could open them. Suspecting something was wrong, the castles were sprinkled with holy water, and only after that the gates were admitted into the temple of the amazed ministers.

The brilliant master himself soon lost his speech and quickly went to the grave. We didn’t have time to find out from him the secret of creating a gate. Some logically assumed that the master simply did not want to reveal the secrets of professional skill.
But rumors and legends reported that there was a deal with the devil. It was on such a deal that the blacksmith was forced to make: to sell his soul in exchange for talent.

Be that as it may, but the incomprehensible beauty of the main gate of the temple can really raise doubts that they were created without any interference from extraterrestrial forces.

The legend of the nails of the holy cross

Of the four cross nails that were used at the crucifixion of Christ, two are kept in France. One of the nails is in Notre Dame itself. The other is in the church of Saint Siffredia, which is located in the city of Carpentras. It is to this nail that all sorts of miracles are attributed.

The miraculous nail was found in Jerusalem by the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine and transported to Rome. Helen, the mother of the emperor, is not in vain revered by Orthodox Christians around the world: she saved and preserved many holy relics associated with the life and death of Jesus and the Mother of God. In particular, with her help, the cross was found, on which the Lord was executed.

Believing in the miraculous power of the cross's nail, Elena ordered to build a bit out of it for her son's horse. She believed that the power contained in the nail would save the emperor on the battlefield. In 313, Constantine, having won a victory over Lucinius, put an end to the persecution of Christians and himself converted to Christianity.

Centuries later, the bit ended up in the Cathedral of Carpentras. A nail from this cathedral was a mystical symbol and a talisman of the city during the time of the plague invasion.

The sick and the crippled were healed by touching it, the nail helped to expel demons from the possessed. Cases of medically unexplained miraculous healings were officially recognized by the Vatican.

The nail, despite its centuries-old age, does not oxidize or rust. Even attempts to gild it did not lead to anything: the gilding lagged behind the nail.

All these miracles, however, do not apply to the nail stored in Notre Dame. This nail has long been covered with rust. However, the authenticity of the French relic from Carpentras is still disputed by the Roman Church.

The legend of the knights

After the destruction of the 1st Jerusalem Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, the trail of the most revered relic of the Jews - the Ark of the Covenant - was lost. The ark of the covenant was in the shape of a casket and was made of solid gold. It allegedly contained divine revelations that shed light on the laws of the universe.

Among other things, the box contained the secret of the "golden ratio". "Golden number" 1, 618 in proportion to 1 was ideal for the construction of architectural structures, when creating sculptures and paintings. The "Golden Number" was the key that revealed the divine secret of the harmony of all things.

According to some versions, the Order of the Knights Templar was considered involved in the discovery of the golden casket. When the first French Templars went to the East to protect pilgrims going to the Holy Land, they did not stop at this task.

Their mission also included the search for the treasured chest. The rumor that the casket was either found by them, or given to the Templars by the secret keepers of the relic, spread throughout France.

In any case, after their return to their homeland, the construction of Chartres Cathedral began. It was destined to become the most magnificent and mysterious cathedral in the world.

The altar - the "holy place" is located between the second and third columns of the cathedral. If you count down 37 meters from this place, you can find the ancient well of the Druids (the lowest point). And at the same distance from the altar is the highest point of the cathedral - the spire of the main column.

This place with dots located symmetrically at the same distance from the main shrine has some kind of magical power. Those who have been there will have an indelible impression. The cathedral seems to transmit double energy to the person.

The energy of the Earth rises from the bottom of the temple. The energy of the heavens descends from above. A person receives such a portion of concentrated pure energy that he instantly transforms, both physically and spiritually.

The Legend of the Symbol of Heaven

For a resident of the Middle Ages, everything that he saw was only a reflection of the upper world, invisible to the human eye. Therefore, the entire architecture of the Middle Ages was encrypted into symbols. It is not easy to figure out all this symbolism of geometry, symmetry, mathematics, astrological symbols hidden in the architecture of Notre Dame.

Its central round stained-glass window (rosette) depicts the zodiacal signs and the zodiacal symbols carved out of stone next to the figure of the Virgin Mary. This composition is interpreted as a symbol of the annual zodiacal cycle.

But the zodiacal cycle begins with the sign of Taurus, while on the stained glass it starts with the sign of Pisces. And this corresponds not to Western, but to Hindu astrology.

The sign of Pisces corresponds to Venus, if we proceed from Greek traditions. But the fish was also a symbol of Jesus Christ. The Greek word "ichtus" (fish) in its first letters contained the phrase: "Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

A gallery of 28 Jewish kings reproduces the lunar cycle. But - again, the mystery of Notre Dame: there were only 18 kings, while the lunar cycle consists of 28 days.

The legend of the bell

The bells on the towers of the cathedral have their own names and voices. The oldest of them is named Belle. And the largest, Emmanuelle, weighs 13 tons.
All bells, except the last one, are rung daily in the morning and in the evening. Emmanuelle, due to its gravity, is not so easy to swing. Therefore, it is used only on the most solemn occasions.

But, if you believe the legends, then the cathedral once served as a haven for a person who could single-handedly rock this gigantic structure. His name was Quasimodo, he was the bell ringer of Notre Dame.

There is also a beautiful legend related to the creation of this bell. When at one time they wanted to cast it from bronze, Parisian women in love with Notre Dame threw their gold and silver jewelry into the molten bronze. That is why the voice of the bell was unmatched in beauty and purity of sound.

The Legend of the Philosopher's Stone

Esotericists consider Notre Dame to be a kind of collection of occult knowledge. Various occult researchers have been trying to decipher the architecture and symbolism of the cathedral since the beginning of the 17th century.

It is said that ancient alchemists helped the famous architects of the cathedral with their knowledge. And somewhere in the geometry of the building, the secret of the Philosopher's Stone is encoded. Anyone who can figure it out in countless sculptural moldings will be able to turn any other substance into gold.

And, if you can decipher the ancient teaching, which, according to the followers of occultism, is encoded in frescoes, then you can comprehend all the secrets of the universe and get unlimited power over the world.

Tower ticket prices:

• Adult: 8,50 Euro
• Persons from 18-25 years old: 6,50 Euro

Entrance to the Cathedral: is free

How to get there

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, Paris 75004
Telephone: +33 1 42 34 56 10
Site: notredamedeparis.fr
Underground: Cité
Working hours: 8:00 - 18:45

Ticket prices

• Adult: 8.50 €
• Discount: 6.50 €

Updated: 16.04.2019

He has been under the tutelage of the Gypsy Baron Clopin since the death of his mother. After a gypsy camp tries to infiltrate Paris and take refuge in Notre Dame Cathedral ("Les Sans-Papiers"), on the orders of Archdeacon Frollo they are chased away by the royal soldiers ("Intervention de Frollo"). Rifle captain Phoebus de Chateaupert takes an interest in Esmeralda ("Bohémienne"). But he is already engaged to 14-year-old Fleur-de-Lys ("Ces Diamants-Là").

At the buffoonery, the humpbacked, crooked and lame bell-ringer of the Cathedral of Quasimodo comes to look at Esmeralda, with whom he has fallen in love ("La Fête des Fous"). Because of his ugliness, he is elected King of Fools ("Le Pape des Fous"). At this moment, the guardian and mentor of Quasimodo, the archdeacon of Notre Dame Claude Frollo, intervenes. He rips off his clown crown and forbids even looking at the girl, accusing her of witchcraft, and then orders the hunchback to kidnap the gypsy and lock her in the tower of the cathedral ("La Sorcière").

At night, the poet Pierre Gringoire follows Esmeralda ("Les Portes de Paris") and witnesses an attempt to kidnap her. But a detachment of Phoebus was on guard nearby, and he protects the gypsy ("Tentative d'Enlèvement"). Quasimodo is arrested. The captain makes the rescued one a date at the Shelter of Love cabaret.

Gringoire finds himself in the Courtyard of Wonders - the abode of vagabonds, thieves and other lumpen. Clopin decides to hang him due to the fact that he, not being a criminal, went there. The poet can only be saved by the consent of any of the women living there, to take him as husbands. Esmeralda, after an offer from her guardian, agrees to save Pierre ("La Cour des Miracles"). He promises to make her his muse, but the gypsy is absorbed in thoughts of Phoebe. She asks a man about the meaning of her lover's name ("Le Mot Phoebus", "Beau Comme Le Soleil").

For attempting to kidnap Esmeralda, Quasimodo was sentenced to the wheel ("Anarkia"). Frollo is watching this. When the hunchback asks for a drink, the girl gives him water ("À Boire").

On the market square, all three - Quasimodo, Frollo and Phoebus - confess their love to her ("Belle"). In gratitude for the water, the first shows her the Cathedral and the bell tower, inviting her to come in whenever she wants ("Ma maison, c'est ta maison").

Frollo pursues Phoebus and goes with him to the Shelter of Love (L'Ombre, Le Val d'Amour). Seeing the gypsy with the captain ("La Volupté"), he stabs him with the gypsy dagger, which Esmeralda lost in the attack of Quasimodo, and runs away, leaving the victim to die ("Fatalité").

Act II

Esmeralda is arrested and imprisoned in La Sante Prison ("Où Est-Elle?"). Phoebus recovers and returns to Fleur-de-Lys, who asks him to swear that the lovemaker will be punished ("La Monture", "Je Reviens Vers Toi").

Frollo judges and tortures Esmeralda. He accuses her of witchcraft, prostitution and attempted murder of Phoebus. The gypsy says that she was not involved in this. She is sentenced to death by hanging ("Le Procès", "La Torture"). An hour before the execution, Claude descends into the dungeon of the prison of La Sante ("Visite de Frollo à Esmeralda"). He confesses his love to the prisoner and offers to save in exchange for reciprocity, but Esmeralda refuses ("Un matin tu dansais"). The archdeacon tries to take her by force, but at this time Clopin and Quasimodo penetrate into the dungeon. The Jester stuns the priest and frees his stepdaughter ("Libérés"), who is hiding in Notre Dame Cathedral.

Residents of the "Yard of Miracles" come there to pick up Esmeralda. The royal soldiers under the leadership of Phoebus engage them in battle ("L'Attaque De Notre-Dame"). Clopin is killed. The vagabonds are driven out ("Déportés"). Claude Frollo gives the gypsy to Phoebus and the executioner. Quasimodo searches for her, but meets Claude, who confesses to him that he did it because of his refusal ("Mon maître mon sauveur"). The hunchback throws the owner off the cathedral and dies himself with Esmeralda's body in his arms (Donnez-La Moi, Danse Mon Esmeralda).

Musical "Notre-Dame de Paris"

What does the musical "Notre Dame de Paris" mean to you? This most popular work left few people indifferent, it has an extraordinary bewitching power. What is his secret? Maybe it's all about the spectacular performance, an extraordinary story of love and betrayal, told by the brilliant Hugo? Or is it all about amazing music in which French chanson and gypsy motives are intertwined? Just imagine, this work contains 50 songs dedicated to the brightest and strongest feeling - love, and almost all of them have become real hits.

A summary of the musical "Notre-Dame de Paris" and many interesting facts about this work read on our page.

Characters	Description
Esmeralda	a beauty gypsy who captivated the hearts of several men at once
Quasimodo	the ugly bell ringer that Frollo raised
Frollo	Archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral
Phoebus de Chateauper	captain of the royal archers, a passionate dancer
Clopin	Clopin
Clopin	the young bride of Phoebe de Chateaupera
Gringoire	the poet who was saved from death by Esmeralda

Summary

In the center of this sad story is the young beauty Esmeralda, who was raised by the gypsy king Clopin, who replaced her father and mother. Their camp makes an attempt to illegally get to Paris in order to find refuge in the Cathedral, but the soldiers notice the intruders and immediately chase them away. Handsome Phoebus da Chateauper, who is the captain of the royal archers, draws attention to the young Esmeralda. Captivated by the beauty of the girl, he completely forgets about his bride Fleur-de-Lys, with whom he is engaged.

The captain is not the only one who drew attention to the young dancer. Quasimodo also has tender feelings for her, who specially comes to the festival of fools to admire his beloved once again. His stepfather and strict mentor Frollo forbids even thinking about this girl and looking at her, but he does it because of strong jealousy. It turns out that the archdeacon is also in love with Esmeralda, only he does not have the right to do so.

Frolo matures an insidious plan - to kidnap the gypsy and lock her in a tower, and he tries to steal the girl along with Quasimodo under cover of night, but Phoebus saves the gypsy in time. Taking advantage of the moment, the captain immediately invites the beauty on a date.

An involuntary witness to the abduction, as well as the brave act of the captain, becomes the poet Gringoire, whom the gypsy king Cloper wants to hang for violating the rules of the camp, because he visited the Court of Miracles, and this is strictly prohibited. But Esmeralda saves Gringoire and now has to marry him. But the gypsy is already in love with another, with her savior, Phoebe de Chateaupera.

The archdeacon watches Esmeralda and the captain closely as they set off on a date, and, blinded by jealousy, pounces on the rival. As a result, Frollo stabs Phoebus with a knife. But Esmeralda has to pay for this crime, because it is she who is accused of the attempt on the life of the captain. At the trial, the gypsy tries to prove that she is innocent, but Esmeralda is not listened to and is sentenced to death.

While the girl is in prison awaiting sentencing, Frollo visits her. The archdeacon offers to save the beauty in exchange for her devotion and love, but she refuses him. Hearing this, Frollo attacks Esmeralda, but the girl is saved in time by Clopin and Quasimodo. The whole camp came to help the captive, and a battle ensued between the gypsies and the royal soldiers. As a result of this collision, Clopin dies, and Esmeralda is again arrested, and Frollo himself hands her over to the executioner. In despair, he shares this with Quasimodo, admitting that he did all this because of the refusal of the beauty, and in anger he throws the insidious Frollo off the tower, and he rushes to the place of execution in order to embrace the already dead Esmeralda for the last time.

Photo:

Interesting Facts

• A record number of applicants came to the casting for the Russian version of the musical - about one and a half thousand, and only 45 of them were accepted into the troupe.
• About 4.5 million dollars were spent for the production of the Russian version, and 15 million were collected for the entire time of the show in the Moscow theater.
• By 2016, the total number of viewers who watched the performance around the world amounted to more than 15 million people.
• It is worth noting that the author of the famous "Notre Dame" has also written a musical on a rather unusual Russian theme. He called this work "The Decembrists"; the poet Ilya Reznik was involved in the development of the libretto.
• Currently, a shortened version of the musical by Alexander Marakulin is on tour in our country. The troupe's artists even became involved in a criminal case on copyright infringement.
• In Nizhny Novgorod, a parody of the play was staged with almost identical decorations.
• Not without some blunders in the French production of the musical. So, it was noticed that on the wall there is a record of anarchy, although it was originally supposed to be a different word - ananke, which means rock. Already in the new Mogadorian version of the play, this word was corrected to be correct.

Popular numbers:

Belle (listen)

Dechire (listen)

Vivre (listen)

Le temps des cathédrales (listen)

History of creation

Surprisingly, this musical became popular even before its premiere thanks to the release of a disc with recordings of some singles (16 songs). The presented compositions made an unprecedented sensation and quickly began to win the hearts of the public. The premiere, which took place on September 16, 1998 in Paris at the Palais des Congrès, was a resounding success. The part of the main character was performed by Noah (recorded), and then by Helen Segara, the role of Quasimodo went to Pierre Garanu (Garou) , Phoebe - Patrick Fiori, Gringoire - Bruno Peltier, Frollo - Dariel Lavoie. The director was the Frenchman Gilles Mayo, who at that time was known to the general public for his productions. In general, the performance turned out to be a little unusual, because it differed from the established format of musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Claude-Michel Schonberg: minimalist stage design, modern ballet choreography, and an unusual format.

The songs from the musical immediately began to head various charts, and the most popular of them, "Belle", became a real world hit. After its success in France, the musical set off on its triumphant march to other countries of the world.

In 2000, the composer created the second version of the musical, and this version was already presented at the Mogador Theater. It was this version that was used for Russian, Spanish, Italian, Korean and other versions.

The Russian premiere was successfully held on May 21, 2002 at the Moscow Operetta Theater. The production was directed by Wayne Fawkes, an invited director from the UK. When they just started working on the score, Julius Kim, who was in charge of translating the libretto, admitted that it was quite difficult to do. Moreover, not only professional poets were involved in such a painstaking process. That is why Susanna Tsiryuk became the author of the translation of the composition "Belle", she also owns the lyrics to the songs "Live", "Sing to me, Esmeralda". But the translation of the single "My Love" was made by the schoolgirl Daria Golubotskaya. It is worth noting that in our country the performance was also promoted according to the European model: about a month before the premiere, the song “Belle” was launched on the radio station performed by Vyacheslav Petkun (Quasimodo), which immediately became popular. Elements of the Western style are also present in the choreography.

In 2011, it was decided to organize an international troupe, which included artists from different countries, who made a world tour. Each time she was greeted by an enthusiastic audience and a storm of applause. Until now, this musical is successfully performed on various stages of the world. Throughout its existence, it has been shown in 15 different countries and translated into seven languages.

Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral) is one of the most popular attractions in the French capital. He is known primarily due to the work of the same name by Victor Hugo. This one was a real patriot of his native country and with his work tried to rekindle the love of the cathedral among his compatriots. I must say, he succeeded quite well. Indeed, there was no longer any doubt about the love of the French for this building: during the French Revolution, the townspeople meekly paid bribes to Robespierre, who threatened to destroy the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris otherwise. We invite you to learn more about this Parisian landmark, the history of its creation and how it can surprise tourists today.

Notre Dame de Paris (France) - the architectural inspiration of an entire nation

This structure was erected at a time when the majority of the country's inhabitants were uneducated people who passed on the history of religion exclusively by word of mouth. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, built in the Gothic style, keeps within its walls paintings, frescoes, portals and stained glass windows depicting biblical episodes and events. By analogy with other Gothic buildings, you will not find wall paintings here. They have been replaced by a large number of tall stained glass windows that act as the only source of color and light inside the building. Until now, visitors to Notre-Dame-de-Paris, the photo of which is adorned with almost any tourist guide to France, note that passing through a colored glass mosaic gives the structure a mystery and instills sacred awe.

Someone knows this landmark by hearsay, someone remembers it from the novel of the unforgettable Hugo, but for someone it is associated with a popular musical. One way or another, the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is an amazing place with a rich history. If you are planning, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of visiting this attraction.

The history of the founding of the cathedral

The construction of this structure began in 1163. The interior decoration was completed only after a century and a half - in 1315. In 1182 the main altar of this church building was consecrated. The construction work itself was completed by 1196. Only the interior decoration lasted for a very long time. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris was erected at the heart of the French capital. The main architects of this monumental structure, which is 35 meters high (the bell tower of the cathedral rises 70 meters), were Pierre de Montreuil, Jean de Chelles.

The long construction time affected the external appearance of the building, since for a century and a half the Norman and Gothic styles were mixed, due to which the image of the cathedral turned out to be truly unique. One of the most notable features of this building is the six-ton ​​bell located in the right tower. For centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has served as the wedding site of royalty, as well as their coronations and burials.

XVII-XVIII centuries

This magnificent building underwent great tests in the last decades of the seventeenth century. During this period, marked by the reign of King Louis XIV, the most beautiful stained-glass windows and graves were destroyed in the Cathedral. During the French Revolution, Parisians were warned that this magnificent structure would be wiped off the face of the earth. However, they can prevent this if they regularly pay a certain amount of money to the needs of the revolutionaries. Rarely has a Parisian refused to comply with this ultimatum. Thanks to this, the cathedral was literally saved by the local population.

Cathedral in the 19th century

During the reign of Napoleon in 1802, Notre Dame Cathedral was rededicated. And four decades later, its restoration began. In the course of it, the building itself was restored, broken statues and sculptures were replaced, and a spire was erected. The restoration work lasted a little less than 25 years. After their completion, it was decided to demolish all the buildings adjacent to the Cathedral, thanks to which a magnificent square was formed.

What should you look out for today when visiting Notre Dame Cathedral?

In addition to its majestic appearance, the cathedral can offer visitors a lot of interesting things hidden within its walls. So, it is here that for a long time one of those nails has been kept, with the help of which Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. There is also the famous bas-relief of the alchemist of Notre Dame.

If you come to the cathedral on Sunday, you can hear organ music. And the organ located here is the largest in all of France. All believers are given the opportunity to bow before such relics of the cathedral, as well as a piece of the Lord's Cross with a nail preserved in it.

Indulge in the opportunity to admire the surroundings from the observation deck located on the south tower of the cathedral. However, keep in mind that you will have to climb 402 steps to climb it. Also, don't miss the bronze star in the square in front of the cathedral. It marks the zero kilometer, and it is from it that all French roads have been counted since the 17th century.

Make a wish

It is safe to say that a visit to Notre Dame is a very significant event for any person. This is probably why from time immemorial there is a belief here that if you leave a note at the gate of the cathedral with your desire, it will certainly come true.

How to get to the cathedral

As we have already mentioned, Notre Dame is located in the eastern part of the Parisian island of Cité. You can get here either by metro or by bus. If you decide to take the subway, then you need to take line 4 and get off at the Cite or Saint-Michel station. If you are planning to travel by bus, then use one of the following routes: 21, 38, 47 or 85.

Cathedral opening hours

The main hall of Notre Dame is open every day from 6:45 am to 7:45 pm. However, keep in mind that from time to time the flow of visitors is "hampered" by local ministers. This is done in order not to interfere with the passing masses.

If you are planning to visit the towers of the cathedral, take note of the following information:

In July and August, they are open to the public on weekdays from 9:00 to 19:30, and on weekends from 9:00 to 23:00;

From April to June, as well as in September, the towers can be visited from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm every day;

From October to March, they are only accessible from 10:00 to 17:30.

Experienced tourists recommend coming to the cathedral from October to March. During this period, it is not so crowded here, and you can enjoy the relative silence and explore this attraction in a calm atmosphere. Also, if you get the chance, come here at sunset. At this time, you can enjoy a magnificent picture, which is a play of light passing through the interior of the cathedral through the fancy multicolored stained glass windows.

Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral: cost of visit

The entrance to the main hall of the cathedral is free. Please note that all year round, every Wednesday at 2 pm, and every Saturday at 2:30 pm, there is a guided tour in Russian. It's also free.

There is a small building near the cathedral, where the temple treasury is located. Here are kept various old items made of precious metals, as well as the clothes of priests, and the main exhibit is the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, as well as a piece of the Lord's Cross with a preserved nail. Adults will have to pay three euros to enter the treasury, schoolchildren and students two euros, and children from 6 to 12 years old - 1 euro.

If you want to climb the tower of the cathedral, then adult visitors will have to pay 8.5 euros, students - 5.5 euros. For those under the age of eighteen, admission is free.

Great writer. The action begins with a story, tramps who arrive in Paris and try to make their way to Notre Dame Cathedral. They are stopped and driven away by a regiment of royal riflemen led by Captain Phoebus. The captain, betrothed to the young Fleur de Lys, looks at one of the gypsies - Esmeralda. She is under the auspices of a gypsy baron, since she was left without parents.

Esmeralda is no stranger to male attention. The bell ringer Notre Dame, a hunchback named Quasimodo, who is trying with all his might to please the gypsy, is also in love with her. Priest Frollo is also partial to the beauty, but his love borders on hatred. He accuses Esmeralda of witchcraft and persuades Quasimodo to kidnap the girl. The plans are thwarted by Captain Phoebus, Frollo hides, and Quasimodo is arrested by the royal guards and sentenced to wheel, but he manages to escape, not without the help of Esmeralda.

Meanwhile, the gypsy woman falls in love with Phoebus: she agrees to come on a date, spends the night with him. Having learned about this, the priest bursts into their bedroom and wounds the captain with Esmeralda's dagger, and he disappears again. Now the girl is accused of being on the royal shooter, a mortal awaits her. The judge is the two-faced Frollo: after Esmeralda refuses to become his mistress, he orders to hang her. And Captain Phoebus, having recovered, returns to his bride.

Only in 1163, already under Louis VII, one of the leaders of the Second Crusade, when a special Gothic style developed, they began to build the cathedral. Bishop Maurice de Sully supervised all construction work. He strove to create an unusual temple that would accommodate a whole