Now that Notre Dame is open again to the public the crowds have returned in force.
The cathedral exterior remains partly under scaffolding but the roof is on, the spire is back and the interior completed with services running several times a day.
Most visitors still don’t seem to know this but you can book a timed slot online (entry is free) to avoid the long queues.
My previous recollection was of a dark, almost mysterious place full of shadows. Nothing could be further from that now. This light and airy interior is what it must have looked like in earlier times.
It’s a bit of a shock to the system but you can now see the architecture and detailing much more clearly.
I’m heartened to know that there are still craftspeople with the specialist skills required to work on such a massive project.
Look at the scale of it.
Stained glass windows were restored wherever possible, stone was replaced and statues recarved.
Cathedral porticos were crucial for the illiterate illustrating stories from the Bible, many of which I don’t recognise. Everyone however can appreciate the skill and imagination involved in making these entrances.
I was intrigued by this disc set into a screen close to information about the adoration of the crown of thorns, one of the great treasures held in Paris since 1239.
Remind you of anything?
