Visiting Our Lady of Paris
The Notre Dame Cathedral
![Visiting Our Lady of Paris](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/fl_progressive:semi,f_jpg,q_60,c_fill,g_auto:subject,ar_4:3/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/cfdksdtczwha1fqajtia.jpg)
Confession: yes, the Disney movie is one of the reasons the Notre Dame Cathedral made my list of must-sees on a whirlwind, one-day trip to Paris. But there was a little more to it than that. Coming from a family heritage steeped in Roman Catholicism that dates back to ancestors in northern France and Italy, the cathedral was my first stop of the morning after an overnight flight.
![The iconic facade](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/f_jpg,q_60,w_auto/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/xcwskjasuplzxljxogdh.jpg)
Seeing the cathedral from a distance for the first time across the Seine River was an emotional moment. It is simply an unmistakable icon and a structural masterpiece, even from afar. Every detail is thoughtful with an artistry that isn’t created today - it is easy to see why people flock to see it. The iconic stained-glass rose windows gleam in the interior and the cathedral has that same comforting ambiance that can only be felt in sacred and spiritual spaces.
![The altar](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/f_jpg,q_60,w_auto/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/exda0ghqbbq1vgkpwyqb.jpg)
The altar of the church is understandably blocked off to visitors, as it is a sacred place of worship; however, there are plenty of pews and seats available for quiet moments of prayer. The inside of the cathedral has a lot to visually absorb. Some of the more striking details include a triptych of The Last Judgement of Christ, and my favorite: a space devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
![Our Lady of Guadalupe](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/f_jpg,q_60,w_auto/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/wdxfig3via5gmpflmt6r.jpg)
A walk around the exterior of the building allows for a better view of its famous spire - originally worn by weather and ultimately reconstructed in the 19th century. And don’t forget to stop and listen to the bells ringing in perfect harmony when they sound.
![The back](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/f_jpg,q_60,w_auto/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/h2arqtnoaocrq2tihzv9.jpg)
![The spires](https://res.cloudinary.com/rehash-studio/image/upload/f_jpg,q_60,w_auto/if_w_gt_1200,w_1200/files/p3f61x1ypzgeujcs1sce.jpg)