Inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is as much a museum as it is a church, with a rich history and art well worth exploring.

In 528, the site of Notre Dame was a temple built by the Romans dedicated to Jupiter. The Parisian Church reconstructed it in 1163 as a dedication to the Virgin Mary. The French continued to add the artwork, stained glass, portals and paintings for the next century. The architecture remained mostly in Early Gothic and High Gothic style throughout the years of the construction.

Even though some of the cathedral’s statues and paintings were destroyed by war and revolutionaries, what remains is breathtaking. When you go through Notre Dame, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you will see the large sections of detailed stained glass windows, as well as more than two dozen statues in the west front alone. These statues represent everything from the Last Judgment to well-known figures of all walks of religion.

When you are inside Notre Dame, make sure you also take a look at the organs. The most noteworthy was built by Francois-Henri Clicquot, though it was renovated in the 19th century. This organ actually has nearly 8,000 pipes.

Many don’t realize that you can also enter the upper section of the cathedral. Within the tower you can see the chimera, gargoyles and even the Emmanuel Bell that was built in the 17th century. In order to get up to the tower you must enter from the outside of the building. You must also be prepared to walk up 387 steps; there is no elevator. If you aren’t quite up for the climb, head to the back of the building to see the flower garden.

Notre Dame is the cathedral of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris. It does still have religious services every day. They are open to the public and free of charge.

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• Inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame