Church / Cathedral / MonasteryNotre-Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris)

[weetoon, 11.11.2006] To this reviewer, Notre-dame is "the most celebrated" cathedral of its kind "in the world". Its architecture is "one of the best examples" of the transition between "Romanesque" and "Gothic style", in particular the "gargoyles", but also the "carved portals" and the "façade". Although the cathedral was at one time "dilapidated", it is very "hard to imagine" this to be the case when seeing the cathedral today.

Although it is "crowded" when mass is on, the ambience is "much more spiritual" at such times. He advises visitors to "go early" in order to "beat the crowds". The climb to the top could feel "a bit claustrophobic" at busy times, although the panorama from the top is "worth it".

"The Unofficial Guide to Paris"; Page 241; Published 2006. (ISBN 0-7645-9583-5)