Latest news with #Notre-Dame
Miami Herald
02-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
What it's like now inside the beloved Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral
Millions watched on television in horror on April 15, 2019, as plumes of fire shot up from the Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the world's oldest and most celebrated cathedrals. At first, the devastation seemed nearly total, with much of the roof and the iconic spire lost to flames. But today, more than five years later, visitors once more pour into its sanctuary, eager to see how the $1 billion restoration work has progressed. I was lucky enough to visit on Easter Sunday this year, a day filled with Masses and special events. Thousands of families - tourists and locals alike - stood patiently for hours in line to get inside, to attend a Mass or just have a chance to see the remarkable restoration. The interior of the cathedral reopened to the public on Dec. 8, although much restoration work still remains to be done. Giant cranes hang over the building, but thousands of people a day line up to see the rebuilt interior. Larger than a football field, the inside of the cathedral now glows with oatmeal-colored walls and cavernous vaulted ceilings, after the controversial decision to wash them with a latex solution, obscuring the old soot and candle smoke of the centuries. If you're used to seeing gray, grimy walls in ancient buildings, you may be startled to walk in and see the light-filled interior. The French government, which owns Notre-Dame, made the decision in 2019 to rebuild the cathedral as it was before the fire, and vowed to do it within five years - a deadline that was exceeded only by a few months. There have been some changes, including a modern bronze main altar, baptismal font and lectern. Some people would have preferred a more traditional style, but the new style is not jarring. Fortunately for posterity, the cathedral's three magnificent medieval rose windows, created in the 13th century, were saved from the inferno. The sanctuary is covered with stained glass, thanks to an architectural innovation of the time. The so-called flying buttresses pulled the weight of the roof outside the structure, meaning that the interior walls could be opened up for spectacular displays of leaded and stained glass. The ancient 8,000-pipe organ was also saved and restored, removing toxic dust that had settled there from the collapsed lead roof. You could spend hours looking around at all the details, but I like to attend a service when I visit remarkable churches. That's when they show their true selves, including the faith of the worshipers. If you can go to a High Mass, also known as a Gregorian Mass, you'll see the worship at its finest. No ancient European cathedral is complete without its holy relics, which are venerated by the faithful as sacred artifacts from various saints and the life of Jesus. Notre-Dame offers its believers the following: the remnants of the "holy crown of thorns," which biblical accounts say was placed mockingly on Jesus' head by Roman soldiers during his crucifixion. Also, a piece of the cross used in the crucifixion, and a nail from the cross. The relics were rescued from the 2019 fire in dramatic fashion, involving a chain of police and firefighters, and moved temporarily to the Louvre. They were recently returned to Notre- Dame with pomp and ceremony, to be displayed in a newly built reliquary. The public can see them on the first Friday of every month. One thing that surprised me on my visit: Even though the cathedral was absolutely jammed with people, it was relatively quiet. Visitors couldn't help gasping when they entered and got their first looks, but otherwise seemed more solemn and respectful than is often the case. Hopefully, they appreciated the five years of slavishly devoted work by some 2,000 sculptors, engineers, art restorers, stonemasons, carpenters, roofers, iron workers to bring this church back to life. And it still continues today. ______________ Timeline of Notre-Dame de Paris 1163: The cathedral was built between 1163 and 1260, in French Gothic style. 1789: During the French Revolution, many statues and decorative elements of the cathedral were destroyed and it was at one time used as a warehouse. The 28 statues of saints were beheaded, mistaken for French kings, and some of the bells were removed and melted down. 1804: Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor of France with the pope in attendance in Notre-Dame, and portions of the cathedral were restored. But the property continued to decay, and there was talk of demolishing it. 1831: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo is published and becomes a massive best-seller, sparking a campaign to restore the cathedral. 1844: King Luis Phillippe orders that the cathedral be restored. A grander spire than the one destroyed during the French Revolution is constructed. 1991: For the 800th anniversary of the cathedral, a 10-year-long restoration project repaired decorative elements that had fallen off, gargoyles, turrets and sculptures. The stone exterior was also cleaned of centuries of pollution. 2019: On April 15, a fire broke out in the attic and spread across the roof and spire before firefighters were alerted. They prioritized saving the two towers, because their heavy bells could have destroyed the interior if they fell. But 750 tons of debris. including toxic lead dust, fell into the sanctuary from the roof and spire. 2021: Two years of cleaning up from the fire and shoring up the structure meant that reconstruction could finally begin. Because the church is owned by the French government, the decision was to rebuild it as it was before. 2024: The new roof is completed in March. In September, eight massive tower bells returned after cleaning, with three new bells added later. In December the church's doors were symbolically reopened and the pipe organ's 8,000 pipes could be heard for the first time since being covered with toxic dust, as the public was allowed inside for the first ceremonies and Masses. 2025: Construction continues on the massive project, hoped to be completed by 2027. _______ If you go Address: Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris The cathedral is open and free to visit, 7:50 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays (until 10 p.m. on Thursdays); 8:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. English language website: The famous "crown of thorns" is on display intermittently - check the website. Due to gruelingly long lines, it's highly advisable to make an advance timed reservation at the above website. They can be made two days to several hours in advance. You don't need to reserve to attend a Mass; arrive 20 minutes early and find the special line. Here's the Mass schedule: If you're disabled, talk directly to the staff at the far left of the cathedral for special entry. Here's the schedule of sacred music concerts (must buy tickets) _________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I went for a weekend in Paris and was horrified no one had told me this'
A trip to the the city of love can be a dream for many people, filled with bucket-list sights like the Eiffel tower, the Louvre or Notre-Dame but it was the one sight nobody warned me about A staggering 50 million people make the trip to Paris every year, and as I boarded the Eurostar from St Pancras destined for Gare Du Nord I too added to this year's figures after taking a weekend away there just a few weeks ago. Having not stepped foot on Parisian soil before, I perhaps had an idolised version of the French capital, partly from a childhood fuelled with Pixar propaganda stemming from a love of Ratatouille. The city is unique in its place in the world, being one of just a few cities that has a global reputation for history, culture and gastronomy, partly a reason for the millions of tourists and definitely a contributing factor for my decisions to make the journey. Having slotted well into the box of a first-time tourist and visited many of the city's landmark sights - Versailles, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe were all ticked off the bucket list. But despite their architectural marvel it is one much more unexpected site that has lingered with me weeks after returning home, a vision that nobody really quite warns you about. Although the wide selection of patisseries and boulangeries still remain fondly in my memory, it is the creatures lurking in the streets below them that shocked me the most - the rats. Living in London, I have seen rats scurrying around at night, hopping from bin to bin but the vermin that wander the boulevards of Paris are on a whole other level. During my visit, I didn't expect those scenes engrained into my head from Ratatouille to have been so literal. It is something that local Parisians have seemed to become accustomed to becoming an aspect of "le quotidien"(daily life). Local media in the capital even joke that the animals are simply "unsavoury Parisian decor". But it was on my visit and munching on my third Pain au chocolat that I saw the biggest I have ever seen come trotting around a corner, seemingly unphased by any passers by or the organised chaos of Parisian life going on around them. The city has been locked in a centuries-old battle with the creatures, having on multiple occasions throughout its history made drastic attempts to tackle the vermin. But something has seemed to give-way in their uphill battle, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo changing tactics now asking for what the city can do for peaceful cohabitation with the rodents. In 2023, Politico reported that Anne Souyris, the city's deputy mayor for public health said: "With guidance from the mayor, we have decided to form a committee on the question of cohabitation." The city now aiming instead for its rat situation to be "effective" and "not unbearable". Although ahead of last year's Olympics a new crackdown came for the event it wasn't enough to deter my experience. So anyone planning a trip to Paris who suffers from musophobia may need to be wary.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
For a slice of Parisian charm without the crowds, consider Quebec City
Craving the romance of Paris without the jet lag or legions of other people? The City of Light welcomed nearly 30 million visitors in 2023, and even more admirers plan to travel there since the 2024 Summer Olympics and reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Canada's Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with French roots, emanates European elegance yet welcomes about a fraction of the visitors as Paris. Flights from the United States clock much shorter times too, providing travelers with Old World charm minus the travel fatigue. French, British, and North American cultures weave together in this walkable, refined city. 'Québec City is French-speaking, but it's North American, and it's unique,' says David Mendel, an author and historian who has lived in Paris and has also resided in Old Québec for almost 50 years. Cobblestone pedestrian streets wind past candlelit cafes and shops adorned with yellow awnings and overflowing flower boxes. Seventeenth-century stone buildings topped with steep, mansard roofs huddle around every corner. Cafe seating spills into walkways and French voices lilt on the breeze. You might think you're in Paris because Québec City was founded by Europeans and largely built by Europeans, explains Mendel. Erected as the capital of New France, the French empire in North America from the 1600 to 1700's, Québec City stands on a promontory. Port of Québec, the oldest in Canada, connects the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean for global trade. Considered to be the world's most photographed hotel, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac beams proudly from the cliff with its copper roof, circular and polygonal towers and turrets, and dormer windows. Canadian Pacific Railway built this beauty in the French 'Châteauesque' style to encourage tourism. Narrow streets and public squares hug the winding topography. The fortified upper town remains the only completely preserved walled city north of Mexico. In fact, this enchanting municipality looks so much like Europe that it stunt-doubled for France in the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can. Travelers can cover a lot of ground in a few days, as most of the major sights in Québec City lie within a few miles walk of the city center. Stroll Old Québec for boutique shopping in Quartier Petit-Champlain and art gallery and antique perusing on Rue Saint-Paul. With a star-shaped citadel above, Plaines d'Abraham urban park commemorates where the French and British fought for the fate of New France. Similar to its European big sister, Québec City also boasts a Notre-Dame. The white stone, Neoclassical structure remains the first Catholic cathedral north of Mexico and contains one of seven holy doors in the world. 'Walk through the courtyard archway and you'll feel like you're suddenly in Europe,' says Mendel. 'While Québec City brims with history, it is very much alive, with some institutions still functioning in the same locations since the 1600s.' While Québec City may be chillier than Paris in winter, Canadians know how to champion the cold. The Québec Winter Carnival warms hearts with its spirited ice canoe races, frosty snow baths, and spiced Caribou drinks—a mulled wine best enjoyed between mittened hands. Toboggan down Dufferin Terrace or listen to the crunch of ice crashing in the St. Lawrence River as you're enveloped in steam at the Strøm Nordic Spa. Visitors to Old Québec feel like they've been transported inside a snow globe during the holiday season. In May 2025, the province of Québec became Canada's third destination to receive Michelin ratings, after Vancouver and Toronto. François-Emmanuel Nicol, the chef at renowned restaurant Tanière3, wrote the letter that encouraged Michelin to deploy its anonymous inspectors. His AAA Five-Diamond, Relais & Château restaurant impresses, foraged Indigenous ingredients married with French cooking techniques, and this May earned him two Michelin stars. 'In France, the culinary scene is huge with classics like wild game,' Nicol says. 'Québec has its own clout. With farmland all around the city and access to wild ingredients, foraging is a huge part of the Québec identity.' Diners rave about the gastronomically transcendent tasting menu, which can be savored in stone cellar vaults. 'We play on the fact that Québec is the perfect middle, basically between North American and European cultures with its French influence,' says Frédéric Cyr, culinary director at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Beyond poutine and maple syrup, you'll find Québec is also known for nutty cheeses and sweet strawberries. Don't miss the French onion soup blanketed by bubbly Le 1608 de Charlevoix cheese at Bistro Le SAM. Chefs rely on close relationships with small suppliers on the adjacent isle, Île d'Orléans, where 95 percent of the land is still devoted to agriculture. While Paris is flanked by islands with historical buildings, farms flourish on Quebec City's Île d'Orléans. Take a tour with Concierge du Terroir to sample sparkling wines and orchard delights like apple nachos. Even those with a petite sweet tooth will want to taste test the black currant vanilla swirl soft serve at Cassis Monna & Filles as well as the indulgent, Belgian chocolate-cloaked ice cream at Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans. Frantz Noël, co-owner of Conciergerie du Terroir, has also lived and worked in Paris. He explains that Québec City buzzes with a similar cafe culture to the French capital, but in a more relaxed fashion with patio chairs facing each other instead of out to the street. Tours to the island often start at Montmorency Falls, where the cascading commences nearly 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Auberge Saint-Antoine, a boutique, museum hotel educates with artifacts from three centuries of Québec history on display. Just like a fairytale, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac enchants with its stenciled ceilings, crackling fireplaces, and views of the Saint Lawrence River. For a cooler experience, travelers turn to North America's only ice hotel: About 20 miles northeast of Old Québec, Hôtel de Glace is constructed each winter with a new artistic theme. Hold hands in hot tubs under the stars, then snuggle up in sleeping bags on ice beds inside igloos. Cortney Fries (pronounced 'freeze') is an award-winning, Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in family travel, outdoor adventure and wellness. Over the past decade, Cortney has covered hiking in Alaska, sleeping in an ice hotel, swimming with manatees, whitewater rafting the New River Gorge, ziplining in Costa Rica and kayaking in Tenerife. She's always up for an adventure and believes that you should definitely try anything that makes you slightly nervous.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky-Trump meeting on sidelines of Pope Francis funeral is ‘possible'
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Rome before a possible meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral. Officials suggested that the two leaders could meet for the first time since Mr Zelensky was asked to leave the White House following a row in the Oval Office. The two 'could meet', a Ukrainian official said on Saturday morning, speaking on the condition of anonymity. On Friday, Mr Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine were 'very close to a deal' in efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two warring nations. Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump had been expected to sit near each other at Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, until it was revealed that seating arrangements will be based on French alphabet order. As the largest gathering of global heads of state since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the funeral will be a day of diplomatic intrigue at the Vatican, where dozens of world leaders and heads of state will attend, including Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and the Prince of Wales. On Tuesday, Mr Zelensky said that he was ready to see his US counterpart in Rome. 'We are always ready to meet with our partners from the United States of America,' he said. Mr Trump, meanwhile, said that he had 'a lot of meetings set up' but did not reveal with whom. Their potential meeting comes at a pivotal point in the war in Ukraine. The US president has launched a push for peace since returning to office in January, claiming on Friday that a deal to end the conflict was 'close'. Hours earlier, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, spent the day with Vladimir Putin – their third meeting in four months – for crunch talks over a potential deal. The meeting in Moscow coincided with a car bomb, suspected to have been carried out by Ukraine, that killed a Russian general. It came two days after the deadliest missile strikes on Kyiv this year. Also attending Pope Francis's funeral will be Emmanuel Macron, who is also a key figure in negotiations, having hosted talks between the US, Ukraine and Europe in Paris earlier this month. It is possible that the French president will attend any impromptu meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky. In December, Mr Macron convened a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony. Despite Mr Trump saying that a deal was close, a potential meeting between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart also comes at a time of intense friction between the two leaders. Earlier this week, Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of 'prolonging the killing field' by refusing to accept a proposal to accept Crimea, which was invaded in 2014, as Russian. Alongside Mr Trump will be the presidents of Argentina, Gabon, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, and Poland, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many European royals. Israel, however, will not send a senior representative to the funeral following their delayed response to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff. The country will instead send its ambassador to the Vatican amid tensions over Pope Francis's stance on the war in Gaza. Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, vowed to 'honour' Pope Francis, but has opted against attending, making him the only leader of a major Western country to forgo the ceremony. Spain will instead be represented by King Felipe and Queen Letizia, as well as several high-ranking government officials. Alberto Feijóo, the leader of the opposition in Spain, will also attend. Neither Putin or Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, are expected to attend. Doing so for the Russian president would be particularly difficult given the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Ukraine. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Zelensky-Trump meeting on sidelines of Pope Francis funeral is ‘possible'
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Rome before a possible meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral. Officials suggested that the two leaders could meet for the first time since Mr Zelensky was asked to leave the White House following a row in the Oval Office. The two 'could meet', a Ukrainian official said on Saturday morning, speaking on the condition of anonymity. On Friday, Mr Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine were 'very close to a deal' in efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two warring nations. Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump had been expected to sit near each other at Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, until it was revealed that seating arrangements will be based on French alphabet order. As the largest gathering of global heads of state since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the funeral will be a day of diplomatic intrigue at the Vatican, where dozens of world leaders and heads of state will attend, including Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and the Prince of Wales. On Tuesday, Mr Zelensky said that he was ready to see his US counterpart in Rome. 'We are always ready to meet with our partners from the United States of America,' he said. Mr Trump, meanwhile, said that he had 'a lot of meetings set up' but did not reveal with whom. Their potential meeting comes at a pivotal point in the war in Ukraine. The US president has launched a push for peace since returning to office in January, claiming on Friday that a deal to end the conflict was 'close'. Hours earlier, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, spent the day with Vladimir Putin – their third meeting in four months – for crunch talks over a potential deal. The meeting in Moscow coincided with a car bomb, suspected to have been carried out by Ukraine, that killed a Russian general. It came two days after the deadliest missile strikes on Kyiv this year. Also attending Pope Francis's funeral will be Emmanuel Macron, who is also a key figure in negotiations, having hosted talks between the US, Ukraine and Europe in Paris earlier this month. It is possible that the French president will attend any impromptu meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky. In December, Mr Macron convened a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony. Despite Mr Trump saying that a deal was close, a potential meeting between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart also comes at a time of intense friction between the two leaders. Earlier this week, Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of 'prolonging the killing field' by refusing to accept a proposal to accept Crimea, which was invaded in 2014, as Russian. Alongside Mr Trump will be the presidents of Argentina, Gabon, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, and Poland, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many European royals. Israel, however, will not send a senior representative to the funeral following their delayed response to the death of the 88-year-old pontiff. The country will instead send its ambassador to the Vatican amid tensions over Pope Francis's stance on the war in Gaza. Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, vowed to 'honour' Pope Francis, but has opted against attending, making him the only leader of a major Western country to forgo the ceremony. Spain will instead be represented by King Felipe and Queen Letizia, as well as several high-ranking government officials. Alberto Feijóo, the leader of the opposition in Spain, will also attend. Neither Putin or Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, are expected to attend. Doing so for the Russian president would be particularly difficult given the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Ukraine.
