• CATHEDRAL: 01 42 34 56 10. Mon to Fri: 8am-6.45pm. Sat and Sun: 8am-7.15pm. Limited access on Sun due to services. www.notredamedeparis.fr • TOWERS: 01 53 40 60 80. Daily, except 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec. 1 Apr to 30 Sept: 10am-6.30pm. Fri and Sat, from 1 July to 31 Aug: open until 11pm. 1 Oct to 31 March: 10am-5.30pm. Full rate: €10. Booking required. www.tours-notre-dame-de-paris.fr • ARCHAEOLOGICAL CRYPT OF THE ÎLE DE LA CITÉ: Cathedral of Mon and on certain public holidays.01 55 42 50 10.Daily: 10am-6pm, exceptFull rate: Notre-Dame €8. www.crypte.paris.fr de Paris around The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, a Notre-Dame de Paris jewelof Gothic architecture, is France’s most visited monument, situated at the 1 Sainte-Chapelle very tip of the Île de la Cité. Construction Located within the Palais de Justice, Sainte- of the cathedral began in medieval times Chapelle is a precious vestige of what was and continued over several centuries. Badly once the palace of the French kings, from damaged during the French Revolution, the the 10th to the 14th century. Constructed in cathedral was restored in the 19th century a flamboyant Gothic style, the building was under the direction of architect Viollet-le- commissioned by Saint Louis. In the lower Duc. Visitors can admire its rose windows, chapel, devoted to the Virgin Mary, the azure stained glass, chapels, spire and gargoyles. ceiling of the chapel, studded with gilded They can also discover the Notre-Dame fleur-de-lis, is a truly magnificent sight. treasury and climb to the top of the towers The upper chapel, designed to house relics to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of of Christ’s Passion, lost during the Revolu- the capital, especially on certain late-night tion, features predominantly red and blue openings in summer. For its 850th anniver- stained glass windows, a masterpiece of the sary in 2013, the cathedral renewed its col- genre, dating from the 13th century. lection of bells by acquiring eight new ones 8 bd du Palais (1st). M Cité.o and a new tenor bell. A visit to the cathe- 01 53 40 60 80. Daily, except 1 Jan, 1 May dralends with the crypt, accessible from and 25 Dec. 1 Apr to 30 Sept: 9am-7pm. 1 Oct the parvis, where visitors can discover the to 31 March: 9am-5pm. Full rate: €10. Joint foundations and vestiges of buildings con- ticket with the Conciergerie/full rate: €15. structed between the Gallo-Roman epoch www.sainte-chapelle.fr and the 17th century. While on the parvis, be sure to have a look at the ‘kilometre zero’ plaque from which point road distances in France are calculated. 6 parvis Notre-Dame. Place Jean-Paul II (4th). M Cité.o HISTORIC HEART 17