Notre Dame may not be the largest cathedral in the world, but it is probably the most famous and the most recognizable. Without a doubt, it is the most photographed. The cathedral has a strong attraction for tourists, and there is always a line of people half a block long waiting to go in. By the way, there are tourists here from many different countries, and Americans are not in the majority. It may well have to do with the exchange rate; the American dollar is not so good against the euro right now ($1.34 buys 1 euro), but the Aussies tell us their rate of exchange for euros is great, so they are well represented. There are also many Orientals, and I overhear people speaking French, Italian, and once in a while Spanish and Russian. Brits can and do pop over for the weekend. The weather was unseasonably warm and sunny for our first week in Paris, beginning September 29, 2011, so the fine weather may have contributed to the number of tourists, many of them with camera in hand (like me).
Notre Dame as seen from across the Seine River
One side of Notre Dame
One of the Rose windows
One Tower of Notre Dame
Front view of Notre Dame
Tourists lined up to go into Notre Dame
On the other side of the cathedral, where there are many small shops, an accordionist plays for tips on the sidewalk beside Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cathedral is enormous. In photos, its massiveness is not obvious, but you realize it very quickly once you’re here. The architecture is French Gothic, and its construction began in 1163 and was finished in 1345. It is 420 feet long by 226 feet wide, and the towers are 222 feet tall. That means, each tower is approximately 20 stories high! You can go up in the towers if you can climb 387 steps to the top--and you are charged a fee to climb them, as well. I found it difficult to photograph Notre Dame, except at a distance, because I had to be quite far away to get the full height or full width of the cathedral in a frame. The other side of Notre Dame is lined with shops and fast food places which cater to tourists.
The Square of Pope John XXIII
Beside and behind the cathedral is the Square of Pope John XXIII . There are four garden beds, about 120 feet long by 45 feet wide, along one side of Notre Dame and beside the Seine River. The Fountain of the Blessed Virgin is in a lovely garden behind Notre Dame.
Beside and behind the cathedral is the Square of Pope John XXIII . There are four garden beds, about 120 feet long by 45 feet wide, along one side of Notre Dame and beside the Seine River. The Fountain of the Blessed Virgin is in a lovely garden behind Notre Dame.
A garden bed beside Notre Dame
A flower in that garden bed
Flowers in that garden bed
A special little garden that extends from the side of Notre Dame to the back
The garden continues. Check out the intertwined branches that support the raised bed. There is a liner, like landscaping fabric, under and around the soil that keeps the soil from falling out through the branches of the border. I think it’s a very natural-looking way of supporting a raised bed.
Orange flowers in that garden
Close-up of one of the flowers
The garden ends in dappled sunlight.
The Fountain of the Blessed Virgin with Notre Dame in the background
Close-up of the Virgin and Child
Pigeons in the Virgin's fountain
The pigeons are ensconced in the grass behind the fountain. I’ve never seen them plopped down in the grass like that. I only see them constantly hustling for scraps thrown by tourists or flying around in hordes, looking for scraps thrown by tourists.
The garden continues. Check out the intertwined branches that support the raised bed. There is a liner, like landscaping fabric, under and around the soil that keeps the soil from falling out through the branches of the border. I think it’s a very natural-looking way of supporting a raised bed.
Orange flowers in that garden
Close-up of one of the flowers
The garden ends in dappled sunlight.
Close-up of the Virgin and Child
Pigeons in the Virgin's fountain
The pigeons are ensconced in the grass behind the fountain. I’ve never seen them plopped down in the grass like that. I only see them constantly hustling for scraps thrown by tourists or flying around in hordes, looking for scraps thrown by tourists.
Flowers bordering the fountain
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