Notre Dame Cathedral novel interesting facts. Notre Dame Cathedral is a legend in the center of Paris. Gargoyles and chimeras of Notre Dame de Paris
1. One of the greatest creations of man - Notre Dame de Paris - stands on the banks of the Seine. That's certainly music frozen in stone. In other words, this work of art cannot be named.
2. Already in the fourth century AD, on the site where the cathedral now stands, there was a beautiful church of St. Stephen. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the Normans, who invaded French territory. In the sixth century, a church dedicated to the Mother of God was built nearby.
3. By the twelfth century, both churches had fallen into such decline that the bishop of Paris decided to erect a temple. Thus began the history of the great temple.
4. The construction of the temple lasted almost two centuries: from 1163, when King Louis VII and Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone, until 1330.
5. According to the plan, the temple premises had to be so large as to accommodate all the inhabitants of Paris (and there were about ten thousand of them at that time). Now the population of Paris has increased many times over, but Notre Dame de Paris is still ready to host more than nine thousand people within its walls.
6. The most important temple of France is located on the island of Cite in the middle of the Seine. Due to the fact that the temple was built by several generations of architects, it mixes Romanesque and Gothic styles.
7. It is interesting that there is not a single wall in the cathedral. The entire space is occupied by pillars connected by arches. In the openings of the arches - stained-glass windows.
8. In the middle nave of the cathedral (it is the largest of the five), you can easily put a twelve-story building. The two central naves intersect each other, resembling the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
9. Three pointed arches serve as entrances. Near them are statues of saints, prophets and angels. There are also statues in the niches of the cornice. These are statues of biblical kings.
10. Much attention should be paid to the bell tower, which, at one time, served as the watchtower of Paris. From here it was possible to conduct excellent observation of the approaches to Paris and notify the inhabitants of the city in time of the danger.
11. In the nineteenth century, the main property of Paris was brought into such decline that in 1841 the government had to take a special decision, four years after the adoption of which restoration began.
12. Today, Notre Dame de Paris is the main monument of Paris. It is located exactly in the center of the city and is of great historical value. Be sure to visit it, you won't regret it.
13. One of the great Christian relics, the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ, is kept in the cathedral. Until 1063, the crown was located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, from where it was transported to the palace of the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople. Baldwin II de Courtenay, the last emperor of the Latin Empire, was forced to pawn the relic in Venice, but due to lack of funds, there was nothing to buy it. In 1238, King Louis IX of France acquired a crown from the Byzantine emperor. On August 18, 1239, the king brought it to Notre Dame de Paris. In 1243-1248, the Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) was built at the royal palace on the Ile de la Cité to store the Crown of Thorns, which had been there until the French Revolution. Later, the crown was transferred to the treasury of Notre Dame de Paris.
14. Annually the cathedral is visited by 14 million people, it is one of the most famous monuments in Europe.
15. In 2009, fans of Michael Jackson, who gathered on the porch of the cathedral, thought that the bells were ringing in honor of the death of their idol. In fact, the bell ringing accompanied procession to the Cathedral of Saint-Severin.
16. In the Middle Ages, Notre Dame de Paris was a Bible for those who could not read - the entire history of Christianity from the fall to the Last Judgment was clearly painted in numerous sculptures decorating the building. And the creepy-bizarre chimeras and gargoyles, watching from the roof of the endless stream of parishioners, have collected an incredible amount of legends and myths about the secret meaning of the symbolism of the mystical temple. Esotericists believe that the code of occult teachings is encrypted here. Victor Hugo called Notre Dame Cathedral "the most satisfying compendium of the occult". In the 17th century, researchers tried to decipher the secret of the philosopher's stone, which, according to legend, medieval alchemists encoded in its architecture.
17. Other legends tell about the participation of the devil in the construction of the temple. The blacksmith Biskorn was commissioned to forge the most beautiful figured gate for the Paris Cathedral. Unable to fulfill the order, the blacksmith called for the help of the devil. In the morning, when the servant of Notre Dame came to see the sketches of the future gates, he found the blacksmith unconscious, and in front of him shone a masterpiece with openwork patterns of unprecedented beauty. The gates were installed, the locks were put in, but then it turned out that they could not be opened! The castles succumbed only after being sprinkled with holy water. The Parisian historian Henri Sauval, who in 1724 investigated the origin of the patterns on the gates, which do not look like either forged or cast, said: “Biskorn took this secret with him, never revealing it, or fearing that the secret of manufacturing would be stolen , or fearing exposure, because no one saw how he forged the gates of Notre Dame de Paris.
18. Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the site of a pagan temple where the Romans worshiped Jupiter in the 1st century. Later, in 528, the Romanesque church of Saint-Étienne was installed here. And finally, in 1163, the Bishop of Paris founded a new cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Notre Dame).
The legendary building was destined to witness many significant events in the history of France. Here the crusaders prayed before leaving for the holy wars, Philip IV convened the States General - the first Parliament in 1302, Henry VI (the only ruler of England who bore the title "King of France") was crowned in 1422 and Mary Stuart was married to Francis II, and in 1804 Napoleon put on the crown of the Emperor.
At the height of the French Revolution, in which Paris was the epicenter, the indignant people broke into the cathedral, which had become a symbol of royal power, and in the heat they decapitated 28 statues of the Jewish kings. Many treasures were destroyed or plundered, only large bells escaped being melted down. The building survived by a lucky chance - after the destruction of the Abbey of Cluny, the revolutionaries ran out of explosives. So Notre Dame Cathedral was declared the Temple of Reason, and the premises were used as a food warehouse.
19. Only in the middle of the 19th century, after the release of Victor Hugo’s first novel, Notre Dame Cathedral, where he wrote in the preface: “One of my main goals is to inspire the nation with love for our architecture,” the restoration of the famous temple began. All the broken statues were replaced, a high spire was added, and the roof was populated with demons and chimeras. In addition, houses near the cathedral were demolished to improve the view of the renovated building.
20. As for its 850th anniversary, the whole of France plans to celebrate the round date throughout the year. The program of events is extensive - these are worship services, concerts, exhibitions, festivals, scientific conferences. In addition, French Post is scheduled to issue commemorative stamps dedicated to the anniversary. And the cathedral itself is going to renew its bells, which will be cast according to ancient technologies, restore the organ and renew the interior lighting of the temple. Also, a special tourist route has been prepared for the round date, following which you can learn about little-known facts in the history of Notre Dame de Paris. After all, so many more secrets and legends are associated with this place.
21. For the anniversary events in honor of the 850th anniversary of the cathedral (which will last almost a year - from December 12, 2012 to November 24, 2013), nine new bells were cast for the cathedral (the total cost of creating new bells is estimated at 2 million euros), the organ was also reconstructed . A number of religious and cultural initiatives are timed to coincide with the anniversary, the preparation of which is carried out jointly by the Parisian archdiocese and the authorities of the French capital, in January the French Post will issue two commemorative postage stamps. A special "pilgrim's route" will be created, following which you can get acquainted with little-known facts about the territory adjacent to the cathedral and the secrets of the courtyard.
After wandering around the Marais, on May 1 we headed to the cradle of Paris - island of the City to see one of the main sights of Paris - Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris).
Exactly on island of the City (Île de la Cite) Paris was born. Over 2 thousand years ago, it was inhabited by the Gallic tribe of the Parisians. Due to the strategic position of the island, it remained the center of all the cities that were built here under the Romans, Franks, Capetians. As a result of the urban transformations of Baron Haussmann, the appearance of the island of Cité has changed almost beyond recognition. However, such significant medieval buildings as Cathedral of Notre Dame, Saint-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.
At first we sat very nicely in square of John XXIII (Square Jean XXIII) on the banks of the Seine, behind Notre Dame Cathedral. Despite the abundance of people, it was quite calm and comfortable here, very green and pleasant. This square offers a magnificent view of the cathedral and its sculptural compositions, as well as the buttresses supporting the roof and walls of Notre Dame. In the 17th century, the residence of the archbishop was located here, but in 1831 the archbishop's palace was plundered and desecrated by revolutionaries, and later destroyed. Then this wasteland was bought by the Parisian prefect Count Rambuteau ( Comte de Rambuteau), he also planted a wonderful garden here in 1844. Since 1845, the garden has been decorated with a pseudo-Gothic Fountain of the Virgin or archiepiscopal fountain (la fontaine de la Vierge or la fontaine de l "Archecheché), designed by the architect Alphonse Vigureux ( AlphonseVigoureux). The figure of the Virgin and Child was made by the sculptor Louis Merlieu ( Louis Merlieux). On the pedestal where she stands, you can see the figures of 12 apostles (four on each of the three faces), and in the lowest part of the fountain - the figures of three archangels (from their feet, in fact, water flows). The square itself is named after one of the most popular popes of the 20th century - John XXIII, who was pope in 1958-1963.
View of the Fountain of the Virgin and Notre Dame Cathedral from the square of John XXIII:
After sitting in the square of John, we went to the main entrance to the cathedral. The queue is all over the place! But, fortunately, she moved quite cheerfully. Inside the cathedral, respectively, there are also plenty of people. It saves that everyone moves in an organized manner, counterclockwise: from the western side of the cathedral to the south and then, through the altar (eastern) part, to the north.
Next to the cathedral is a statue of Charlemagne, who united the Christian nations of the West. In 768, Charles became king, and in 800, emperor.
History of Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral
The history of Notre Dame de Paris on the Ile de la Cité is quite interesting. Cathedral of Notre Dame(Notre Dame de Paris) was built on the site of the ruins of a Roman temple. The first stone in its foundation was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163 (according to other sources, it was Bishop Maurice de Sully). Work on the construction of a huge cathedral was completed only by 1330. With dimensions of 130 m in length and 35 m in height (not counting the vaults), Notre Dame de Paris was far superior in scale to most other Gothic cathedrals. To implement the project, we even had to change the building plans of the whole area!
In 1793, the revolutionaries turned the cathedral into a “temple of reason” and robbed (Robespierre ordered the beheading of “stone kings decorating churches”), in 1795-1802. it was closed and even served as a wine warehouse. In 1804, the coronation of Napoleon took place here (it was under Napoleon that Notre Dame was returned to the church and re-consecrated). In 1944, a ceremony was held at Notre Dame to mark the liberation of Paris, and in 1977, the funeral of General de Gaulle.
In 1841, work began on the complete restoration of Notre Dame under the guidance of a renowned architect and restorer Viollet-le-Duc (Viollet-le-Duc) (by the way, he was engaged in the restoration of the Sainte-Chapelle). Work on the restoration of the building and the restoration of sculptures, the replacement of broken statues and the construction of a 90-meter spire, designed by Viollet-le-Duc instead of dismantled in 1786, took 23 years.
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris: interesting facts
At the base of the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral installed figures of the 12 apostles going down. Each group consists of three apostles, and each is accompanied by a winged creature, symbolizing one of the four evangelists (angel, lion, calf and eagle). The eyes of all the apostles are directed downward towards the city, and only one apostle, St. Thomas is looking to the cathedral: He turned around to take one last look at his creation. The fact is that, according to the plan of Viollet-le-Duc, the figure of this apostle (the patron of architects) personifies himself, his profession; this is a kind of signature of the master (it is no coincidence that this apostle has a ruler in his hands).
Gargoyles and chimeras of Notre Dame de Paris
Viollet-le-Duc also owns the idea galleries of chimeras on the facade of the cathedral (there were no chimeras at Notre Dame in the Middle Ages). The famous chimeras hide on the upper platform at the foot of the towers.
Gargoyles Parisian Notre Dame belong to the Middle Ages, or rather to the XIII century, and are known no less than chimeras. The most beautiful gargoyles are considered to be at the level of the large flying buttresses of the choir (they are more elongated and, so to speak, slender than their slightly younger sisters (around 1225 versus 1240)). Thanks to durable limestone ( liesu), mined in the Seine basin, the monsters are well preserved. Moreover, in addition to the ideal building material, it is worth noting that the Paris of the Middle Ages was a big city, where many wonderful craftsmen and, in particular, sculptors flocked to work. Here are photos of several gargoyles we took during this trip (I don’t know exactly which part of the facade these pictures were taken from):
Strictly speaking, gargoyles(sometimes there is a spelling gargoyles) is not at all the same as chimeras. Although they are often confused. Actually, gargouille translated from French as "gutter, drainpipe". Hence their functional, and not just decorative purpose: these monsters (dragon snakes) have long been used to drain rainwater from the roofs and walls of buildings. Impressive torrential masses can erupt from their mouths far beyond the cathedral, so that the gargoyles, in fact, protect the walls of the temple from damage, and the foundation of the building from destruction.
As for chimeras, installed at the base of the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, these are fantastic, grotesque, usually ugly creatures with the body of a monkey and bat wings, goat horns, snake heads and other animal attributes. Chimeras represent human sins and the forces of evil. Their function, unlike gargoyles, is purely decorative.
You can admire the chimeras of Notre Dame if you climb gallery of chimeras (Galerie des chimeres). All this balustrade is occupied by figures of demons, monsters and fantastic birds. In the Middle Ages, these sculptural elements did not exist at the cathedral: they, as mentioned above, decided to introduce Viollet-le-Duc to recreate the fantastic and mysterious atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Viollet-le-Duc himself painted the chimeras, and they were completed by fifteen remarkable sculptors of the 19th century under the guidance of Geoffroy Deschomas (). Viollet-le-Duc and his team were not afraid of the new and proved that Notre Dame Cathedral is not a museum and not a frozen monument of the past, but a living temple that develops and is complemented by new decor.
The most famous chimera of Notre Dame is Strix (la Stryge) (from the Greek. strigx, that is, "night bird"), a winged night demon, a half-woman half-bird who emitted piercing criticism and, according to legend, fed on the blood of newborn babies or abducted them in her clawed paws. Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History, describes a popular belief that the strixes poison children with their poisonous milk. Already the Romans were afraid of these nocturnal nocturnal spirits, reminiscent of vampires. Chimera-strix became famous thanks to the etchings of the French engraver Charles Merion (Charles Merion) (1821-1868) with views of Paris. Here is this famous engraving from 1853:
To get to the gallery of chimeras, you need to go through 387 steps of the northern tower, and then a beautiful panorama of the city opens up and you can take great pictures of the famous monsters looking at Paris spreading below and as if mocking all the abominations and outrages that occur on earth. True, we didn’t climb the tower, I don’t remember exactly why. Probably because of the line...
Portals of the main facade of Notre Dame de Paris: the exterior of the cathedral
General view of the cathedral:
Parisian Notre Dame is a basilica with galleries and double side naves. Gothic cathedrals with double aisles were rarely built, which puts the cathedral in a privileged position. The double naves are divided in half by longitudinal rows of giant columns.
Three portals of the main (western) facade of the cathedral:
Three portal of the main (western) facade of the cathedral(the central western (Last Judgment), northern (left) portal of the Virgin Mary and the southern (right) portal of St. Anna, mother of Mary) are decorated with magnificent sculptures. As far as I remember, all the people were let in just through the door of the right portal, that is, the portal of St. Anne, which is quite logical, given the direction of the inspection.
On both sides of the western rose window (1225) on the main facade stretches the gallery of the Kings. AT gallery of kings (La galerie des rois) presents 28 figures of biblical (Jewish) kings, the ancestors of Christ. In 1793, the figures were beheaded by revolutionaries, so that the current heads are the work of 19th-century restorers working under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc(although in 1977, during construction work in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, on the Chaussée d'Antin, 21 of the 28 heads of the kings were found, now they are on display in the medieval Cluny Museum ( Museum of Cluny); although crippled, they retained some traces of their former polychrome: red lips, rosy cheeks, black eyebrows, etc.). The height of each figure is over three and a half meters. The gates of the cathedral are decorated with a beautiful pattern of wrought iron.
Lower western façade with gallery of kings(fragment):
Above the Gallery of the Kings is the famous West facade rosette with the so-called Virgin's balcony (Le Balcon de la Vierge). The statue of the Virgin and Child surrounded by two angels was made in the 19th century under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc, replacing the original medieval figure, which was badly damaged by time and climatic influences.
On both sides of the outlet (respectively, above the portal of the Virgin and the portal of St. Anna, at the level of the gallery (balcony) of the Virgin) are installed sculptures of Adam and Eve. These sculptures cause serious controversy among art historians; many consider their appearance on the facade Viollet-le-Duc's fundamental mistake. In ancient times, this part of the cathedral was decorated only sculpture of the Virgin Mary.
Above the central portal of the western facade Cathedral placed image doomsday (Portail du Jugement dernier). This portal with striking sculptural decoration dates back to the 13th century (1220-1230). Portal presents Last Judgment just as it is described in the Gospel of Matthew. In the center, on the interwindow pillar ( trumeau), dividing the doors of the central portal into two halves, is located big statue Jesus Christ, Good Lord ( Le Beau Dieu) with the Book of Life (on the pedestal where it stands, there are figures representing the liberal arts). This figure of Christ is considered the most famous creation of the French sculptor of the XIX century. Geoffroy-Deschomas(Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume) (it was created from a drawing by Viollet-le-Duc).
central portal(portal of the Last Judgment) of the western facade of the cathedral:
On the sides of Christ, on the slopes of the walls of the portal, in the openings ( ebrasements) placed statues twelve apostles, six on each side: on the left pillar Bartholomew, Simon, Jacob Alfeev (the Younger), Andrew, John and Peter, on the right - Paul, Jacob Zebedee (the Elder), Thomas, Philip, Judas Thaddeus and Matthew. The apostles are facing Christ preaching on the central column. The statues of the apostles were destroyed by the revolutionaries in 1793 and subsequently recreated by Viollet-le-Duc, who restored the main facade of the cathedral to its original appearance.
At the feet of the apostles on the base of the portal, in a kind of "medallions" the virtues and vices opposite to them are presented. For example, a lamb depicts meekness, armor - strength. And let's say that such a sin as inconstancy is personified by a monk throwing his cassock into the nettle bushes. These bas-reliefs are almost 800 years old. The theme of virtues and vices is also played up in the motifs of the Western rosette.
Also on the slopes of the walls of the portal, only closer to the entrance, on the jambs of a luxurious door, there are ten figures of maidens, five on each side. The symbolism of this part of the portal is as follows: do not despair, you just need to stay awake and keep the fire in your lamp, as they do wise virgins, depicted on the left support pillar (from the side of Paradise). On the other side we see foolish virgins who no longer had any oil left in their lamps, and they did not stock up on lamp oil when they went out to meet the bridegroom. It means parable of the ten virgins given in the Gospel of Matthew. Sculptures of virgins were also recreated in the 19th century.
On the lower lintel (called in French linteau) are depicted the dead rising from their graves. They were awakened by two angels with trumpets (standing on both sides). Among the dead there is one king, one pope, warriors, women and even one African (which symbolizes the presence of all mankind at the Last Judgment).
From the first two archivolts framing the tympanum, angels watch the resurrection of the dead. Each in his own way expresses surprise at this spectacle: in the whole composition there are no two identical gestures or poses. Some figures of angels have retained traces of the former coloring, this medieval polychrome (in the following photo, note the folds of the drapery and wings):
A level higher, on the top jumper is shown archangel Michael, who weighs the souls of the dead on the scales of justice, determining those elected to Paradise (left side, that is, according to right hand from Christ). Two devils, big and small, are trying to pull one side of the scale to their side. Other devils, just as ugly and horned, lead sinners on chains to hell. Fear and despair are reflected on the faces of sinners. Both lintels were reconstructed in the 19th century.
The scene of the weighing of souls and the devils that drag sinners to hell is a relief on the upper lintel (a fragment of the lower lintel with an angel announcing the beginning of the Last Judgment is also visible) (by the way, this photo clearly shows the border that separates the ancient sculptures of the 13th century (on the right) from those created in the 19th century (left)):
The scene of the weighing of souls is crowned by a small arch on which the feet of Christ rest. A sinner who does not have time to repent receives a well-deserved punishment: as shown in the right corner of the first archivolt, he flies headfirst into hell. But those who professed the faith of Christ can join the blessed souls in the "bosom of Abraham", which is indicated by the angel in the left corner of the first archivolt.
On the upper gate tympanum Christ sits on the throne of the judge. He raises his hands to show his wounds. The tympanum dates back to 1210. Two angels on the sides of Christ carry the instruments of his torment: the one on the left holds a spear and nails from the cross, and the one on the right is the actual cross. At the corners of the tympanum, on either side of the angels, we see Mary (on the left, that is, on the right hand of Christ) and the Evangelist John (on the right, on the left hand of Christ). These figures in kneeling poses pray for mercy to the human race.
Christ seated on the throne on the day of the Last Judgment - relief on the upper tympanum:
On the bends of the arch covering the tympanum ( voussures) - the archivolts of the portal - we see the saints and the righteous (angels, patriarchs, prophets, church fathers, martyrs and virgins), this is the so-called cour celeste, that is, the inhabitants of Paradise itself.
It is interesting, for example, the image of Abraham, who holds the souls of the righteous on a cloth lying in his arms. This is a symbol of Paradise, the very “bosom of Abraham” (you see, an angel points to Abraham, and a level higher, above the figure located to the left of Abraham, Moses sits with tablets in his hands).
Hell and its inhabitants are given very little space (to the right of the viewer). But what colorful, savory figures! Pay attention, in particular, to the figure of a pot-bellied plump devil in a crown, who tramples on three sinners: a rich man, a bishop and a king.
Other images of hellish torment and knights of the Apocalypse in this part of the portal:
Images on archivolts date back to the 13th century, as well as top part portal (tympanum). As for the rest of the sculptural design of the portal, it was recreated in the 19th century by the efforts of Viollet-le-Duc. At the same time, everyone recognizes the extraordinary quality of the restoration work carried out: the elements of the 13th century are almost impossible to distinguish from those recreated by Viollet-le-Duc and his assistants, they treated that era with such respect and care, they were so imbued with its spirit.
Interior of Notre Dame de Paris: Inside the Cathedral
1. General views
The interior decoration of Notre Dame de Paris is magnificent. A huge majestic space with beautiful works of famous sculptors. The altar screen was made by Jean Ravi ( Jean Ravy), "Pieta" was created by Nicolas Cousta ( Nicolas Coustou), and the statue of Louis XIV - Antoine Coisevox ( Antoine Coysevox). You can easily spend an hour or more on a tour of Notre Dame, even if you are exploring the cathedral on your own, without the help of a professional guide.
Interior view of the cathedral: high nave, choirs and main altar (view from the nave towards the chancel):
Location nave on the plan of the cathedral:
View of the opposite, western side, where it is located western rose window and the great organ of Notre Dame:
West rose window (La rosace ouest) (c. 1220) with the figure of the Mother of God, which is set off by bright stained-glass windows, is central stained glass window of Notre Dame. It looks huge, but is actually the smallest of the cathedral's three rosettes (the stained glass window is 9.6 meters in diameter). In the center - the figure of the Mother of God, around - seasonal rural work, signs of the zodiac, virtues and sins, as well as the prophets. The stained-glass window was almost completely redone by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. It is now almost impossible to fully examine this stained-glass window because of the organ, but this does not matter: you can admire the no less beautiful southern and northern rose windows without hindrance.
2. Transept: stained glass rosettes and a statue of Notre Dame
In this part of the cathedral, you can admire the south and north rose windows, as well as the sculpture of Notre Dame and Child.
The location of the transept (transverse nave) on the plan of Notre Dame:
South rose window(on the right, when viewed from the entrance, i.e. from the west) ( La Rose Sud or Rose du Midi) - a huge stained glass window on the south facade of the transept, its diameter is 13 m. Part of this stained-glass window of the 13th century. preserved in its original form. The southern rosette was installed around 1260. Total number of stained glass rose fragments: 84; the rosette consists of four concentric circles (12 medallions, 24 medallions, then 4-lobed and 3-lobed panels). Some parts of the rosette were replaced during the restoration, first in the 18th and then in the 19th century. Now many stained-glass windows of the rosette are not in their places, and it is not always possible to determine which scene originally occupied this or that part of the composition. Interestingly, during the 19th century restoration, Viollet-le-Duc rotated the rosette by 15 degrees to fix it on a strong vertical axis (it is believed that this somewhat blurred the initial impression of rotation preserved at the north rosette). The stained glass window depicts Christ surrounded by the apostles, as well as saints revered in France, martyrs, wise virgins...
The fourth circle of stained-glass windows depicts twenty angels with candles, wreaths and censers, as well as scenes from the New and Old Testaments (in the third and fourth circles): the flight to Egypt, the healing of the paralytic, the judgment of Solomon, the Annunciation ... In the third circle, nine beautiful surviving scenes from the life of Saint Matthew. Their origin is unknown, but experts unanimously date them to the last quarter of the 12th century. bottom two corner stained glass(ecoincons) represent, respectively, The Descent into Hell (moreover, Moses and Aaron are depicted on top, and the temptation of Adam and Eve is depicted below) (on the east side) and the Resurrection of Christ (on the western side) (on top are Saint Magdalene and Saint John, and below Saints Peter and Paul ).
stained glass rosette in the central medallion was not preserved, and Viollet-le-Duc decided to replace it with the image of the Second Coming of Christ: the sword emanating from the mouth of the Savior symbolizes the Word of God, which separates truth from falsehood. Around are the symbols of the four evangelists: an angel, an eagle, a calf and a lion, and at the feet of Christ are the Book of Life and the Lamb.
The socket rests on the belt stained glass windows (claire-voie) - sixteen high lancet stained-glass windows - " lancets”, together with which the height of the stained-glass window reaches 19 meters. All these narrow stained-glass windows depicting the prophets were created in the 19th century (1861) by the artist Alfred Gerent(or, in the English manner, Gerent) (Alfred Gerente) under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc. Following the model of Chartres Cathedral, in the center are the four great biblical prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel), who carry the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) on their shoulders, which symbolizes the connection of the Old and New Testaments.
At the southeast pillar of the transept stands Virgin and Child. This statue, brought in the XIV century. from the chapel of Saint-Aignan ( chapel Saint-Aignan), are called Notre Dame of Paris. From this part of the altar came an incredible smell of lilies, I still could not understand what it was. It turned out that the statue of Notre Dame is decorated with a lot of fresh white lilies!
We go around the altar part and go along the left side. Here you can admire north rose window(c. 1250). This is a stained-glass window of the 13th century, located at a height of 21 meters (the diameter, like that of the southern stained-glass window, is 13 meters). The stained glass window depicts the Mother of God surrounded by characters from the Old Testament. This is a true masterpiece of high (mature) Gothic. Unlike the rosette in the southern part of the transept, this stained-glass window has been preserved almost in its original form since the 13th century.
The composition of the northern rosette is very dynamic, there are no strictly vertical or horizontal elements, which creates the image of a spinning wheel. This stained glass window is dedicated to the Old Testament. The predominance of lilac and violet hues symbolizes the long night in anticipation of the Messiah. In the center are depicted the Mother of God with a baby, in medallions around - judges, prophets, kings and priests.
3. Altar partition
This is where the most beautiful stone carvings begin. This is an altar barrier La clôture du chœur). In the XIV century. Jean Ravi ( Jean Ravy) (most likely it was him, although it is not known exactly) carved a high partition from stone, separating the choir (choirs) from the nave. In the middle of the XIX century. it was restored by Viollet-le-Duc. Barrier depicts a sequential series sculptural scenes from the gospel. All are polychrome. The colors were also updated by Viollet-le-Duc's team.
Choir location ( altar barrier and the altar, up to the apse) on the plan of the cathedral:
Southern part of the barrier dates from the beginning of the XIV century and consists of nine scenes depicting the appearance of Jesus after the Resurrection. Unlike the scenes of the northern barrier, they are distinctly separated from each other by columns.
« Phenomenon Christ Mary Magdalene » :
« Appearance of Christ to the myrrh-bearing women » :
The scenes follow: «
Phenomenon Christ to the apostles Peter and John
»
;
«
Appearance of Christ to the disciples on the road to Emmaus
»
;
«
Appearance of Christ to the Eleven Apostles at the Supper (without Thomas)
»
;
«
Appearance of Christ to the Apostle Thomas
»
;
«
The Appearance of Christ to the Disciples on Lake Tiberias
»
(the last three scenes are partially visible in the following photo):
Two final scenes: « The appearance of Christ to the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee » and "The Appearance of Christ apostles in sunday evening, in Jerusalem » (the last appearance of Christ, which ended with His ascension to heaven):
Northern part of the barrier belongs to the last third of the 13th century. There are 14 scenes depicting the birth and life of Jesus before last days(not counting the passionate events that took place after the Last Supper: arrest, trial, scourging and execution). The scenes follow one another without interruption and form a single space.
"Visiting Saint Elizabeth"(Meeting of the Virgin Mary and the righteous Elizabeth); « Nativity and bgospel to the shepherds ; « Adoration of the Magi » :
Then come the scenes Meeting of the Lord ”(meeting in the Jerusalem Temple of the infant Jesus with the righteous elder Simeon); " Christ among sages in the temple » (« Otrok Christ among Jewish teachers » - visit of 12-year-old Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple); " Epiphany " and " Marriage at Cana of Galilee »:
The cycle ends with the scenes Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem » (Palm or Palm Sunday); " The Last Supper »; « Washing the feet of the disciples " (performed by Jesus before the Last Supper) and " Garden of Gethsemane » (Prayer for the cup):
4. Altar part, choir
In the depths of the central nave is the altar. In the altar part, behind the altar stands the famous "Pieta" - a sculpture Nicolas Custu (Nicolas Coustou) on a carved plinth by François Girardon.
On both sides of the "Pieta" there are statues of two kings: Louis XIII by the same Nicolas Custu(Nicolas Coustou) (right) and Louis XIV Antoine Coisevox (Antoine Coysevox) (left). The ensemble is surrounded by six bronze angels with tools of the Passion of Christ: a crown of thorns, nails, a sponge soaked in vinegar, a tablet INRI(“Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”), with a whip and a lance.
After many years of fruitless marriage, Louis XIII vowed to decorate Notre Dame Cathedral if heaven sent him an heir. Future Louis XIV was born in 1638, but the fulfillment of the vow took 60 years. On the choir stalls (on both sides), carved panels from the early 18th century have been preserved ( Les stalles en bois sculpté, that is, wooden carved choir benches), depicting scenes from the life of Mary, they were just made in fulfillment of the vow of Louis XIII.
Stained-glass windows of the choir (altar part) . Behind the altar at a great height are high lancet windows with colored stained-glass windows. 19th century (the original stained-glass windows of the 13th century have been lost):
5. Chapels
It is also worth mentioning the numerous lateral (northern and southern) Chapels of Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. They are dedicated to various saints, decorated with magnificent statues and stained-glass windows, tombstones, mausoleums and tombstones of the zhizan type ( gisant) famous religious figures and other prominent people.
In the roundabout surrounding the choirs (this gallery is called deambulatory- deambulatoire) also has beautiful chapels. Five of them directly surround the altar ledge - the apse and, as it were, radiate from it (such chapels are called so: apse or radial - chapelles absidiales or chapelles-rayonnantes). This so-called crown of chapels.
Location crown of chapels on the plan of the cathedral:
At the eastern wall of the first apse chapel - Chapels of Saint Guillaume(Wilhelm) - the mausoleum is located Count Henri Claude d'Harcourt (Henri-Claude d'Harcourt) (1704-1769), lieutenant general of the royal army. The white marble headstone was made in 1776 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle ( Jean-Baptiste Pigalle) (1714-1785). In 1771, Pigalle and the count's wife (who died in 1780 and was buried in the same chapel) signed a contract establishing the sculptural details and symbolism of the composition called "Reunion of the Spouses".
The composition depicts the deceased count, who, seeing his wife, rises from the grave, frees himself from the shroud, stretches out his arms towards his wife, and now the torch of Hymen is burning again. Behind the deceased count is Death with an hourglass, showing the countess that her hour has come. The countess herself is depicted in a kneeling pose at the foot of the sarcophagus and with her whole appearance expresses an impatient desire to quickly reunite with her dearest spouse. And then the guardian angel will put out the torch again.
Location of the Chapel of St. Guillaume on the plan of Notre Dame:
But, for example, the decoration of the most beautiful chapels of the Holy Communion (Chapelle du Saint-Sacrement) (1296), located at the end of the nave in the center of these five chapels (the so-called axial chapel):
Stained glass windows, statues, polychrome patterned vaults with stars...
This chapel is intended for quiet, solitary prayer (as far as possible with such a crowd of people). It is also sometimes called the Chapel of the Virgin Mary or Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows ( Chapelle de la Vierge or Chapelle de Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs).
One of the stained glass windows of the Chapel of the Holy Communion depicts the flight into Egypt:
More stained glass windows of this chapel:
The location of the chapel on the plan of Notre Dame:
Here is another beautiful stained glass window - a stained glass window of one of the side chapels of the south side (the sixth from the right side of the entrance), St Anne's Chapels (Chapelle Sainte-Anne):
In the same chapel there is a painting by a French artist of the 17th century Laurana de la Ira (Laurent de La Hyre) "Conversion of Saul (Apostle Paul)".
Location of the Chapel of St. Anne on the plan of Notre Dame:
And in one of the chapels, we found a historical model depicting the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris:
After a tour of the Notre Dame Cathedral, we returned to the Marais quarter: we went to rest on the square near the Paris City Hall ( Hotel de Ville).
Gate to the cathedral.
Three-aisled church in the form of a Latin cross.
The cathedral, with its splendid interior decoration, has served for many centuries as a venue for royal weddings, imperial coronations and national funerals.
The cathedral is so large that it could accommodate all the inhabitants of Paris, who at that time were about ten thousand. Vicki claims that the middle nave can still accommodate a twelve-story building, but this is doubtful to me personally.
Another design feature of the cathedral is that it does not have a single internal wall. They are replaced by columns connected by arches, and the rooms are separated from each other by stained-glass windows.
The Crown of Thorns of Christ is kept in the treasury of the Cathedral. It is believed that one of the nails with which the cross was put together for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is also located here. On the other hand, the same is said about thirty more nails in different countries. There was also a nail in the Kremlin, but it was lost after the churches were robbed.
In 1302, the Estates General, the first parliament of France, met for the first time. Charles VII (1447), who was crowned in Reims, served a thanksgiving service here. And six days before Bartholomew's Night - on August 18, 1572, the wedding of Henry, King of Navarre, and the sister of the French king, Margarita de Valois, took place.
In 1456, Joan of Arc's rehabilitation trial began here, and on December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of France in the presence of Pope Pius VII.
On August 26, 1944, the Magnificat was performed in the cathedral in honor of the liberation of Paris, in the presence of Generals de Gaulle and Leclerc.
The seats here are comfortable.
Esmeralda did not meet, as did Quasimodo, the bell-ringer. However, it is not surprising. After the "family" drama, they all died ... But it was thanks to them that the cathedral became so popular with tourists. There are a lot of cathedrals nearby, no worse, the same Holy Chapel (link to it below), but everyone is rushing to look at the place where Quasimodo's love raged and are sure that he threw himself off the roof of the cathedral out of love, although he threw another one from there))) but this is no longer important. The main thing is that everyone died there and this place is worth a look...
The cathedral hosts free live tours, including in Russian. The beginning of excursions is announced inside by speakerphone (including in Russian).
The picture on the right evoked associations with a drunken returned husband. The children are happy with their father, and the wife thinks what to do with him now ... God forgive me and the artist ...
There were no clothing requirements. There were tourists even in shorts. Here, in general, inside the sensations are museum, not temple.
The cathedral has allocated a lot of space for the museum. Not Isaac... and this does not prevent any of the priests from praying and reading sermons. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but they check at the entrance, you can’t carry knives, water and wine can be confiscated))
In May 2013, the famous French writer and essayist Dominique Venner committed suicide in front of the altar of the cathedral in defense of traditional values. They say his ghost roams here. At night, it quarrels with Quasimodo's ghost, and during the day they pull the lesbians' pigtails.
In 1238, King Louis IX of France acquired a crown from the Byzantine emperor. On August 18, 1239, the king brought it to Notre Dame de Paris.
In 1243-1248, Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel, about which I have a separate long post -) was built at the royal palace on the Ile de la Cite to store the Crown of Thorns. The wreath was here until the French Revolution. Later, the crown was transferred back to the treasury of Notre Dame de Paris.
famous gate. Masters suffered for them. The Inquisition decided what the hands of a person could not follow, that it definitely could not have happened without the devil.
The cowl is really cute.
Saint Dionysius holds his head in his hands. He is supported by angels.
He accomplished his Christian feat on. According to legend, the Romans sentenced him to death for preaching Christianity, decided not to go to the top of the hill, and executed him below. But Dionysius wanted to be executed on the hill where all Christians were traditionally executed. He took his severed head in his hands, washed it in the spring and walked about 6 kilometers up the hill. The man was strong ... the kingdom of heaven to him. The place where he nevertheless died was later called Saint-Denis.
Incredible Facts
The beginning of the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris) began about 850 years ago in the heart of the then not so big Paris.
Rising to a height of 69 meters, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is still one of the most important sights of the French capital.
Every year, millions of tourists pass through its gates, but only a few pay attention to the details.
Fire at Notre Dame
On April 15, 2019, a major fire started in the cathedral, as a result of which the spire and oak room collapsed. The blaze raged for hours and it took over 400 firefighters to bring the flames under control.
However, Notre Dame is alive, and the French government is already planning the reconstruction of the symbol of France.
Here are some interesting facts about Notre Dame Cathedral that you may not have known about.
Paris Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
1. The most visited monument in Paris
France is one of the most visited countries in the world. Interestingly, the most visited monument is not the Eiffel Tower.
If Disneyland Paris is considered the most popular attraction in France, then Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral is the most visited monument within Paris.
More than 13 million visitors pass through the main gate of the cathedral every year. And this means that every day it is visited by 35 thousand people. In France, 99 percent of cities have fewer people than visitors to Notre Dame.
2. The cathedral was built on a sacred site
Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris. It is quite difficult to imagine this island without Notre Dame Cathedral.
A Gothic masterpiece has stood here since the 12th century. However, the Île de la Cité was here long before the appearance of the cathedral. After the Romans defeated the Gauls at the Battle of Lutetia (52 BC), the new Gallo-Roman city of Lutetia was founded on the island of Cite.
Since its founding, the island of Cité has been divided into two parts. The western part was devoted to the affairs of the city and here was the Palace, where the rulers settled down during their visit to Lutetia. The eastern part was reserved for the altars, where services were held, which were later replaced by Catholic churches. Notre Dame was later built on the remains of these churches.
3. All roads lead to Notre Dame
If you've been in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, admired its facades, but never looked down, then you've missed one important detail, namely the official landmark representing Paris.
Because of the crowds of tourists walking around Notre Dame, many people miss a small round sign with an eight-pointed bronze star.
Here is the French zero kilometer", the point from which the distance from Paris to all other cities in France is measured.
It was installed in 1924, although it was temporarily moved in the 1960s during excavations for an underground car park. However, plans for its construction had to be canceled when the architectural remains were raised and are now stored in an archaeological crypt.
4. Bells have their own history
As in other cathedrals, the bells of Notre Dame have their own names. In Notre Dame Cathedral they are called Marie, Emmanuelle, Gabrielle, Anne-Genevieve, Denis, Marcel, Etienne, Benoit-Joseph, Maurice and Jean Marie.
Interestingly, the bells that are heard now are not the bells that were installed at the completion of the cathedral 600 years ago.
The fact is that after the French Revolution in 1791, most of the bells were removed and melted down to make cannonballs out of them.
New bells were not installed until the mid-19th century, but the updated instruments were not as finely tuned as the older versions and made more dissonant sounds when they rang.
Finally, in 2013, a new ensemble of bells recreated the sound of the 17th century.
5. Chimeras of the Cathedral - not a medieval creation
A typical element of Gothic art, chimeras and gargoyles adorn many of the camps of Notre Dame. Gargoyles are hollow statues placed in certain places to drain rainwater. Chimeras, on the other hand, perform a purely decorative role.
On the towers of Notre Dame, the famous chimeras allow tourists to take famous perspective shots with the towering chimeras in the foreground and Paris in the background.
People often think that the chimeras represent the medieval style of the cathedral. However, this is not at all the case.
First of all, almost all gargoyles have been replaced since the Middle Ages. Moreover, because of their function, many are not designed to last a long time and need to be replaced every 150 years.
Most of the chimeras were also replaced, and the most famous chimera in the Gallery was simply added during the reconstruction in the middle of the 19th century.
6 The Cathedral Was Saved By Quasimodo
After the French Revolution, Notre Dame Cathedral was seriously damaged, including statues and bells. In the 19th century, it was in a rather deplorable state and practically sank into oblivion, becoming a religious place of storage.
In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France in the cathedral, which brought back interest in the site.
In 1831 the famous Victor Hugo's "Notre Dame Cathedral" set in 15th-century Paris in the cathedral of the same name, brought unprecedented glory to a long-forgotten church.
7 The Cathedral Is The Place Of The Beheading
During the revolution, people were so outraged by the monarchy that they began to destroy any symbols of the kingdom on the streets of Paris.
The revolutionaries decapitated 28 statues in the gallery on the main façade, mistaking them for statues of French kings. In fact, the statues represented the kings of ancient Judea.
The statues still have no heads, but 21 of them were found during work in the basement of the French Bank for Foreign Trade, and now they can be found in the Cluny Museum.
8. There is a whole forest on the roof of the cathedral
Notre Dame de Paris measures 127 meters long and 48 meters wide, and the main nave is 43 meters high under the roof.
With such parameters, it is surprising that the structure of the roof was almost entirely made of wood from the 12th century.
The wooden frame consisted of more than 1300 trees, and one tree was used for each beam. The structure of the roof was given the name "Forest" because of its enormous size.
9. The Crown of Thorns is kept in the Cathedral
Priceless relics are kept in Notre Dame, including the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ, part of the Cross and a nail.
If the rest of the treasures can be admired all year round, then the Holy Relics can only be seen on the first Friday of each month during divine services, as well as Great Lent and Good Friday.
10. The cathedral was built on the basis of the golden ratio
In architecture, the golden ratio can be seen in any shape, consisting of a square and a rectangle, whose total dimensions are a ratio of 1 to 1.61.
This ratio is considered the formula of perfection in art.
In architecture, many famous and valuable buildings are built on the basis of the golden ratio, such as the Parthenon in Greece or the Taj Mahal in India.
Notre Dame de Paris - you probably won’t be able to find a person who hasn’t heard about this monumental creation. One of the hallmarks of Paris, sung first in the novel by Victor Hugo, and then in the musical of the same name. But we are sure that in any case we will be able to surprise our readers - in this article we will talk about interesting facts related to this legend of architecture.
1. The place where the majestic Notre Dame now flaunts, as if it was intended for religious buildings. Back in the 1st century, a Roman temple was erected on it, in which they worshiped Jupiter. Later, the territory was chosen for the construction of a rather picturesque church of St. Stephen, but even her beauty did not save her from the destructive power of the Norman conquests.
Over time, another church was erected on this site - this time in the name of the Mother of God. But she disappeared - fell into decay. Bishop Maurice de Sully, who wanted to build a temple, put an end to such a series of constructions.
2. The first stone of the temple was laid by Pope Alexander III and the French monarch Louis VII. True, none of the founders found the completion of construction - the Notre Dame Cathedral was built for two whole centuries! Naturally, during this time, more than one generation of architects has changed, which left an imprint on the style. Notre Dame combines intricately both Gothic and Romanesque styles.
3. There is a legend according to which the devil himself helped build the cathedral! And the blacksmith Biskorn called him, who carried out the order to create the gate. The blacksmith, already desperate to forge the most beautiful openwork patterns, allegedly called for help from Satan, after which he departed to another world. The installed gates could not be opened in any way exactly until the moment when they were sprinkled with holy water.
The gothic legend sounds creepy, agree.
But even more interesting is the fact that the prominent 17th-century historian Henri Sauval, who wrote as many as three volumes on the history of Paris, could not unravel the mystery of the cathedral gates. He concluded that the patterns could not be attributed to either cast or forged. In his opinion, Biskorn might not want to share professional secrets. Or maybe there was a grandiose hoax? After all, there were no witnesses to the work of the blacksmith.
4. Another component of the building, which is invariably surrounded by a mystical halo, is, of course, gargoyles and chimeras. Try to imagine yourself in the place of the townspeople, who are looked at from somewhere from a height by bizarre stone entities - and you will understand why. Hugo at one time called Notre Dame "a quick guide to the occult." In the 17th century, numerous admirers of mysterious teachings tried to find the philosopher's stone here too, proving that the architecture of the cathedral contains an important key to unraveling the mystery.
5. Simple uneducated Parisians recognized the Bible thanks to numerous sculptures. Architectural creations told about all its key moments from the fall of people to the day of the Last Judgment.
6. The bell tower of the cathedral brought no less benefit in its time. From it it was very convenient to survey the surroundings. Thanks to this, the Parisians in troubled days knew in advance that the enemy was close.
7. According to the original idea, the cathedral, which has long been associated with a refuge, was supposed to accommodate all the inhabitants of Paris. And this is no less than 10,000 people! Of course, there are many more residents now in the French capital, but the capacity of Notre Dame is still amazing.
8. You may not have noticed before, but the huge Notre Dame Cathedral does not contain a single solid wall! Just look closely - and you will see a huge number of columns with arches. In the openings of the arches, colorful stained-glass windows look at visitors.
9. In such structures, visitors are usually particularly impressed by the nave - the part of the interior designed to accommodate the faithful. On one or both sides, it is picturesquely fenced with columns. So, in the middle nave of Notre Dame, according to modern estimates, you can freely place a house of 12 floors. Just imagine this monumentality!
10. Speaking of naves: two of the five available form an intersection. And even this is no coincidence - such an intersection symbolizes the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
11. Despite the true majesty and real usefulness of the building, it did not pass the period of decline. Within the walls of the cathedral, the crusaders turned to God, the first parliament met, Henry VI accepted the crown, the infamous Mary Stuart married Francis II, and Napoleon Bonaparte received the status of emperor. And after all this amazing series of events, the cathedral was destined to experience not the best of times in the 19th century. He also influenced the revival of the legend of Hugo - after the release of his novel, the government finally allocated funds for restoration.
12. According to statistics, every year the famous work of architectural art is visited by about 14 million people.
It is customary to say about architecture that it is music frozen in stone. Perhaps it is difficult to more accurately describe the impression that the Notre Dame Cathedral, looking from the depths of centuries, makes on a person.