Four Days in Paris
A photographic record of my visit to Paris in September 2000
Photography by John Ball except where otherwise indicated.
Day 2 (Sunday Sep 24th)
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This morning I travelled by Metro to the Cité subway station on the Ile de la Cité, just a short walk from Notre Dame cathedral.
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| Above: Intricate 13th century stone carvings above the doors in the west front of the cathedral. Pope Alexander III laid the first stone in 1163 AD, marking the beginning of 170 years of work by armies of Gothic architects and mediaeval craftsmen. The cathedral stands on the site of a former Roman temple. |
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| The lofty nave (left) and majestic west front (right) of Notre Dame. A Sunday morning service was in progress so access to the inside of the cathedral was limited. The towers are 228 ft (69 m) high. The south tower (on the right) houses the famous Emmanuel bell. Sadly, I saw no sign of Quasimodo, Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame". |
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| Above: The south-eastern aspect of Notre Dame, viewed from the Left Bank of the Seine.
Important features shown in this photograph include the 295 ft (90 m) spire designed by Viollet-le-Duc, the south facade rose window, and the spectacular flying buttresses designed by Jean Ravy. The buttresses have a span of 50 ft (15 m).
The picture below was taken from the Square R. Viviani on the Left Bank of the Seine, showing the south aspect of the cathedral. The Square includes a children's play area containing four brightly coloured upended motor cars.
Below: Notre Dame viewed from Square R. Viviani. |
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| Below: Portrait artists had set up their easels and were displaying their wares in the shade of the trees along the Quai de Montebello. |
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Click here to accompany me as I explore the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) of Paris.
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