Notre Dame was begun in 1163 and largely completed by the early 14th century. There was extensive renovations in the mid 1800's to repair the damage that occurred during the French Revolution. It is massive - both inside and out.
Climbing the towers of ND gave us a great perspective on its immediate surroundings and parts of the building that are difficult to see from the ground. The Place du Parvis is seen as the heart of Paris and distances to every part of metropolitan France are measured from this square in front of ND. A bronze star across the street from the cathedral's main entrance marks the exact location of Point Zero des Routes de France.
Gotta love those gargoyles!
And one of the three rose windows:
And now to a different church - St. Eustache- located in the heart of the city's old marketplace, built between 1532 and 1637. The sculpture in the chapel below speaks to its name as the market cathedral.
This church really soars with its vaulted architecture.
And finding "The Life of Christ" triptych by Keith Haring In one of the side chapels was a delightful surprise.
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I've forgotten the origin of gargoyles? Please report? Churches, art, museums, art, People, art, architecture, art . . . lOVE the fact art is everywhere. You are NOT allowed to come home until you write at least one post about FOOD! You are, after all, in France! Xo Cathryn
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