The bell towers of Notre-Dame that Quasimodo adorn in the Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
This little piece of island is one of the two natural islands on the Seine River in Paris. In Merovigian times, it was where the seat of power was located. This island has one of Paris’ main attractions, the Notre-Dame de Paris. Notre-Dame is well known for its architecture and stained glass windows, especially the rose window. But I found a church, just a few metres away from Notre Dame that holds one of the best stained glass windows in all of Paris, if not France.
Île de la cité is easy to manoeuvre on foot. The Notre-Dame cathedral is an obvious choice to start with as its medieval architecture imposes awe and beauty to everyone that sets their eyes on it. The front façade of the cathedral is rather humble yet impressive. Covered in intricate reliefs above its doors and a bell tower to each side, its rather welcoming as you spot is from a far. But as soon as you step inside you’re blown away by its high ceilings and stained glass workmanship. Its gothic architecture is evident and the light that goes through its stained glasses cast colourful shadows on the interior, giving this place its awe and splendour.
The exterior of the cathedral, especially from the back and from along the Seine river, is rather impressive. Its sheer size with its flying buttressed flanked out to support the high stained glass windows, the gargoyles watching over from the top and the intricate cravings – are just grand. It took more than a 100 years to complete the cathedral with a number of architects at its helm. It was almost an on going project for centuries since 1163.
The exterior of the cathedral, especially from the back and from along the Seine river, is rather impressive. Its sheer size with its flying buttressed flanked out to support the high stained glass windows, the gargoyles watching over from the top and the intricate cravings – are just grand. It took more than a 100 years to complete the cathedral with a number of architects at its helm. It was almost an on going project for centuries since 1163.
An amazing view of the cathedral's exterior from the gardens.
To the back of the cathedral is a beautiful garden where you can site and admire the view of the cathedral and the its surroundings. It has to be one of the very few spots you can get good free wifi.
*I managed to skype call; download my walking maps and surf the web without much lag.
This garden leads to the The Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, a memorial to the 200,000 people deported from Vichy France to the Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. The entrance is a descending stairway leading from the garden. Its designed to represent the concentration camps where the passages were narrow with spiked gates and restricted views and the sight of horizon is no where to be found. It’s rather overwhelming to be in here and at the same time moving.
*I managed to skype call; download my walking maps and surf the web without much lag.
This garden leads to the The Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, a memorial to the 200,000 people deported from Vichy France to the Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. The entrance is a descending stairway leading from the garden. Its designed to represent the concentration camps where the passages were narrow with spiked gates and restricted views and the sight of horizon is no where to be found. It’s rather overwhelming to be in here and at the same time moving.
The Lower Chapel of Sainte-Chapelle served as a place of worship for the palace staff.
There is one hidden little gem on this island that is often over looked and missed by many tourists – Sainte-Chapelle. This little treasure is situated right next to the Palais de Justice, the modern Supreme Court built in the 18th century - this is the earliest seat of government since Roman times. The church sits with the Palais de Justice’s courtyard.
From the exterior, this church is not as merely impressive as Notre-Dame or even Sacré Coeur. BUT… it is has the most impressive interior and stained glassed windows in Paris. Even Notre-Dame doesn’t come an inch close to Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass work – flabbergasted, breath taking and speechless are the only words that comes to mind as you’d be in either one or all 3 categories.
*Quick history lesson: The Palais de Justice is constructed on the grounds that used to be palace and seat of royal power from the 10th to 14th century. And on this grounds were the Conciergerie and the church, Sainte Chapelle. The church was constructed between 1242 – 1248, under the instruction of Louis IX, to house the relics of Christ - one of it being the Crown of Thorns.
From the exterior, this church is not as merely impressive as Notre-Dame or even Sacré Coeur. BUT… it is has the most impressive interior and stained glassed windows in Paris. Even Notre-Dame doesn’t come an inch close to Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass work – flabbergasted, breath taking and speechless are the only words that comes to mind as you’d be in either one or all 3 categories.
*Quick history lesson: The Palais de Justice is constructed on the grounds that used to be palace and seat of royal power from the 10th to 14th century. And on this grounds were the Conciergerie and the church, Sainte Chapelle. The church was constructed between 1242 – 1248, under the instruction of Louis IX, to house the relics of Christ - one of it being the Crown of Thorns.
The church is split into two levels, the Lower Chapel and Upper Chapel. As you walk into the lower chapel, one can only image the splendour it would have been in its prime days. The gold painted motives shimmer against the light that shines through the stained glassed windows with the statue of Virgin Mary, greets and takes your breath as you walk through the doors of this church.
The colours of red, blue, green and gold are prominent on the columns and walls in this lower chapel. The walls are decorated with blind trefoil armatures and 12 medallions featuring the apostles. The domed ceiling is painted in blue and gold that adds on to the beauty for this lower chapel. It’s a wondrous sight to see but this is not the cream of the crop. This is merely the chapel built for the palace staff.
As you’d turn around to face to entrance, you’d notice a narrow stairway leading to the upper chapel. This little narrow stairway gives birth to a bright-spacious-high-ceiling space that is truly fit for a king. Stained glassed window, each done in the same style and manner, covers the entire length of the wall. The windows depict the entire Christian history from the Book of Genesis to Christ’s resurrection – monumental is an understatement considering all this was achieved in a short span of time.
*The Upper Chapel is only meant for the king, his family and close friends as well as the canon’s that was leading the service. During the time of the French kings, this part of the chapel was connected directly to the palace. It took around 6 years to complete the construction of this church under King Louis IX’s watchful eyes - Man certainly has great taste!
The colours of red, blue, green and gold are prominent on the columns and walls in this lower chapel. The walls are decorated with blind trefoil armatures and 12 medallions featuring the apostles. The domed ceiling is painted in blue and gold that adds on to the beauty for this lower chapel. It’s a wondrous sight to see but this is not the cream of the crop. This is merely the chapel built for the palace staff.
As you’d turn around to face to entrance, you’d notice a narrow stairway leading to the upper chapel. This little narrow stairway gives birth to a bright-spacious-high-ceiling space that is truly fit for a king. Stained glassed window, each done in the same style and manner, covers the entire length of the wall. The windows depict the entire Christian history from the Book of Genesis to Christ’s resurrection – monumental is an understatement considering all this was achieved in a short span of time.
*The Upper Chapel is only meant for the king, his family and close friends as well as the canon’s that was leading the service. During the time of the French kings, this part of the chapel was connected directly to the palace. It took around 6 years to complete the construction of this church under King Louis IX’s watchful eyes - Man certainly has great taste!
The Upper Chapel is covered wall to wall in sainted glass work depicting the entire Christian history.
The way to read a stain-glassed window is to start from the bottom to the top and from left to right. This is true for all the windows in here expect for the window that tells the story of the relics of the Passion (last stained glass window to the right of the church). It is to be read a boustrophedon manner – where alternate lines are read from right to left. So on this window you’d read in this manner:
Step 1: Read left to right.
Step 2: Move onto the row above and read right to left.
Now repeat step 1 and 2 over and over again till you get to the top of the window to understand the story.
The prize collection of this church is the relics stored in the shrine of the upper chapel. It is said to contain 22 relics of Christ including the fragments of the Holy Cross and the Crown of Thorns. The Crown of Thorns used to be displayed until the revolution where it was melted down. The rest of the relics now reside in the treasury of the Notre-Dame cathedral.
The rose window above the entrance of the upper chapel is the only later addition, is a perfect example of the style termed Flamboyant Gothic that is meant to represent flames. It is read in a ‘S’ shaped manner from the centre and outward.
Step 1: Read left to right.
Step 2: Move onto the row above and read right to left.
Now repeat step 1 and 2 over and over again till you get to the top of the window to understand the story.
The prize collection of this church is the relics stored in the shrine of the upper chapel. It is said to contain 22 relics of Christ including the fragments of the Holy Cross and the Crown of Thorns. The Crown of Thorns used to be displayed until the revolution where it was melted down. The rest of the relics now reside in the treasury of the Notre-Dame cathedral.
The rose window above the entrance of the upper chapel is the only later addition, is a perfect example of the style termed Flamboyant Gothic that is meant to represent flames. It is read in a ‘S’ shaped manner from the centre and outward.
The Hall of Soldiers in the Conciergerie.
The Conciergerie is an interesting place to visit. It is situated on the other end of the Palais de Justice. A far cry from the beautiful church of course as you are greeted by a vast dim-lit space with various narrow stairways leading to the prison cells. Its La Salle des Gens d'Armes (The Hall of the Soldiers) was used as a barrack for the men in arms, as well as a place where the palace’s 2000 staff had their meals when it was the royal palace.
This place was turned into a prison during the French revolution. It housed hundreds of prisoners waiting execution on the guillotine at various locations around Paris. Interestingly enough, prisoners were allowed to buy comforts for their last remaining days. A standard cell would have hay for the prisoners to sleep on. Those who want a bit more comfort could opt for a cell with another inmate with the comforts of a bed and pillow at a small fortune. If your family was rich, then you could afford a cell all to yourself, with a bed, desk, candle and some writing material.
*Talk about prison standards!
This is where Marie Antoinette lived for months before she was beheaded – and probably why the Conciergerie is known for. Her cell was rather plushly furnished, spacious and even had guards within her cell watching her every move.
This place was turned into a prison during the French revolution. It housed hundreds of prisoners waiting execution on the guillotine at various locations around Paris. Interestingly enough, prisoners were allowed to buy comforts for their last remaining days. A standard cell would have hay for the prisoners to sleep on. Those who want a bit more comfort could opt for a cell with another inmate with the comforts of a bed and pillow at a small fortune. If your family was rich, then you could afford a cell all to yourself, with a bed, desk, candle and some writing material.
*Talk about prison standards!
This is where Marie Antoinette lived for months before she was beheaded – and probably why the Conciergerie is known for. Her cell was rather plushly furnished, spacious and even had guards within her cell watching her every move.
The Île de la Cité maybe a tiny island but it surely has a number of sites to visit and not just the Notre-Dame de Paris.
Getting here:
Métro, Line 4 : Cité
RER station, Line C : Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame
(on the Left Bank; has an exit to the square in front of the Cathedral)
View the gallery for more photographs.
Getting here:
Métro, Line 4 : Cité
RER station, Line C : Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame
(on the Left Bank; has an exit to the square in front of the Cathedral)
View the gallery for more photographs.