The site of the Notre dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious center of the city. The Celts had their sacred ground here, the Romans built a temple to worship Jupiter. A Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last religious structure before the Notre-Dame construction started was a Romanesque church. Contstruction started in 1160 and was not completed till 1345!!! According to legend, de Sully had a vision of a glorious new cathedral for Paris, and sketched it in the dirt outside of the original church. To begin the construction, the bishop had several houses demolished and had a new road built in order to transport materials for the rest of the cathedral.
Nana said...
I would like to go to vespers on June 30th, when we are staying in the hotel near Notre Dame.
Coleen said...
Mom is interested in going to a Vespers service. They are every day at 5:45pm.
Coleen said...
Cathedral is open every day of the year from 8 A.M. to 6:45 P.M. (7:15 on Sat/Sun). English tours on Wed/Thur at 2 P.M. and Sat at 2:30 P.M. Access is free of charge. Notre Dame is a few blocks from the Hotel Saint Louis.