Notre Dame

Dominating the islands in the center of the city, the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris is still an active church and cathedral that holds regular services as well as concerts and recitals. Every angle of the church reveals different features of its unique gothic architecture.

Fujifilm X-E1, 18mm, ISO 800, 3.5s, f/13

Visitor Information

Notre Dame (Our Lady) was commissioned in 1160, and the church celebrated its 850th birthday in 2013. Its gothic architecture provides the official seat of the Archbishop of Paris. The church features many wonderful bells that ring on the hour and on holidays. The largest of the Notre Dame bells, the bourdon bell Emmanuel in the south tower, weighs more than 13 tons.

Victor Hugo introduced the story of Quasimodo, the hunchback and Notre Dame bell ringer, in 1831. Today, electric motors ring the bells, so Quasimodo would have to content himself with telling visitors to take off their hats and keep the noise down.

Getting There

Notre Dame is in the center of the city, in the 4th arrondissement on Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining islands on the Seine. The main entrance is to the west underneath the church’s twin towers, with the spire and flying buttresses to the east. The closest stations to the cathedral are Cité on Metro line 4 and Saint Michel–Notre Dame on RER lines B and C.

When to Go

I love seeing Notre Dame at night. It’s beautifully lit, and the gothic architecture is wonderful for night shots. In that respect, the time of year doesn’t matter much. If you’re photographing the front, keep in mind that a large Christmas tree sits near the main entrance in December.

You might want to consider the availability of the moon and moonlight as well. If you shoot in early evening in the winter, for example, you might be able to shoot from the riverbanks and line up the moon behind the cathedral. If that appeals to you, check out the nights for either a full or crescent moon.

Viewpoints

Standing directly in front of Notre Dame is not going to give you the most interesting view. You need to look around and work the scene to discover the details of the architecture. Along with the Louvre, Notre Dame is one of my favorite landmarks in Paris to photograph at night.

Below the Cathedral

When shooting from below, you have open access to view the cathedral from all sides, with further views possible from the banks of the river. Take some time to walk all around. The architecture is so intricate that you’ll see different shapes and patterns as you move. The gardens to the south and east of the cathedral are the most pleasant and tend to have slightly fewer people than in front of the entrance.

Fujifilm X-E1, 55mm, ISO 1600, 0.25s, f/4

Square René Viviani Park

Across the river from Notre Dame is the Square René Viviani, a very pretty little park. The archways covered in roses offer a good spot for portraits, but you can also use them to frame a shot of Notre Dame or add some foreground detail.

Fujifilm X-E1, 37.4mm, ISO 200, 1/30s, f/14

River

My favorite shots of Notre Dame have been from the river, to the south. If you cross one of the bridges and then walk a short distance heading east, you can use the river itself, a bridge, or multiple bridges in the foreground. This composition gives some perspective to the building and shows off the architecture in its entirety.

Fujifilm X-E1, 31.5mm, ISO 200, 14s, f/16

Inside

You will need to stand in line, but entrance to the main church hall is free and non-flash photography is permitted. I used a mini tripod without any problems, but using a full tripod might attract a bit more attention from officials. The interior is beautiful and worth a visit.

Fujifilm X-E1, 18mm, ISO 200, 26s, f/16

Top of the Cathedral

If you have time, it’s worth climbing to the top of the bell tower at Notre Dame. The entrance is around the corner from the main church entrance, on the side opposite the river. You will need to buy a ticket for around $11 (8€) as of January 2014, and access is by stairs only. You will discover good views across the city, with the variety of gargoyles providing a good foreground feature, plus an interesting view of the lower structure of the building. Access ends at 4 p.m., so going up for sunset is sadly not an option.

Fujifilm X-E1, 55mm, ISO 200, 1/90s, f/8

Fujifilm X-E1, 55mm, ISO 200, 1/220s, f/4

Nearby Sights

While visiting Notre Dame, consider checking out a few sights in the neighborhood.

• The Latin Quarter is close to Notre Dame, offering a plethora of cafes, bistros, and cheap restaurants. Stick to classic French or Greek dishes to get reasonable quality for the price.

• The famous glacier Berthillon is on Île de la Cité (29-31 rue saint Louis en l'ile).

• The wonderful English-language bookstore Shakespeare and Company is just across the river. Photos aren’t allowed inside, but take a look around and you just might find some creative inspiration amongst the old books, classic typewriters, and old piano.

• The Saint Severin church is not quite as impressive as Notre Dame or Sacre Cœur, but far fewer people visit so you can enjoy its interior splendor in relative peace.