Île de la Cité Things to Do

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Maybe not an absolute must see, but a good place to go when the queues are too long for the Sainte-Chapelle (it's just a couple of meters from there and i quite never have seen any noticeable queuing (a good place to buy your museum pass) - this certainly comes from the level diffrence in the security check.

The Conciergerie began its existence as a part of the royal palace in the 9th century (the oldest parts remaining today are from the 12th century).

When the kings, at the end of the 14th century, left the building to live in the Louvre, they maintained a janitor : the 'Concierge' in charge , thus the name.

From this time, the place was used as a barrack for the men in arms (the gendarmes), the huge salle des gens d'armes is now often used for temporary exhibitions (for instance during 1st semester 2006 : photos of the Seine from 1900 on).

The place is famous for having been the jail of the royal family (among numerous charged people) during the Revolution: you can see Marie-Antoinette's cell, the 'Chapelle des Girondins' where the prisonners used to hear their last mass and the 'Cellule de la toilette' where they left their last belongings and had their hair cut before going to the guillotine.

The Conciergeries is open every day from 9:30 to 18:00.

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Despite what its name may suggest, the Pont Neuf (the new bridge) is the eldest bridge in Paris.

Built between 1578 and 1604 (ordered by Henri III, finished under Henri IV whose statue stands upon the bridge's platform), linking the Ile de la Cite to both the right and the left bank of the Seine, it was the first one where no house building was allowed.

It has long been (until the 1789 revolution) a favourite area for popular open air attractions, like comedia del arte and juggling.

Some minor renovations had to be done in the past (some 'spare' and discarded pieces can be seen in the musee Carnavalet), but the old bridge remains in such a good state that the french expression 'Se porter comme le Pont Neuf' is still a synonym for beeing incredibly healthy (if not very young).

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As long as history is recorded, the place where Notre Dame de Paris stands has been a place of devotion : pagan first, christian later.

The construction of the now existing cathedral stretched between the 12th and the 14 th centuries.

After the 1789 revolution, except for Napoleon's coronation in 1802, the Cathedral had been a bit neglected and was badly in need of some renovation when - in 1831 - Victor Hugo published his novel "Notre Dame de Paris". This rekindled the interest for medieval buildings among parisians and government officials, making fund raising posible. A vast restoration program was decided and begun in 1845 (architect Viollet-le-Duc) lasting more than 20 years, The spire and the sacristy were added at this time.

From 1991 on further important renovations were done, and in spring 2006, the scaffoldings were at least removed. For how long ? the pollution and the high frequentation always induces some new renovating need.

Accounted as the most striking examples of the style known as Ile-de-France Gothic, Notre-Dame is one of the most visited monuments in Europe.
In summer, the number of tourists -dumped here busload after busload - sometimes becomes overwhelming. But, if you are able to ignore the noise and movement, you can appreciate the special nature of what is still a sanctuary, to admire the stunning architecture, the light filtering through the stained glasses, to pray or meditate, or, on a sunday afternoon, to listen to a (free) organ concert.

To continue the visit (both from outside and inside) clic here

(Just my prayer here : Visitors, PLEASE respect Notre Dame as a church, don't turn it into a circus, a flashlight test or a phone booth).

The tours of Notre Dame, are the tours to the tower, from here you can enjoy great views of Paris.

You can also see all the gargles, and imagine yourself as Quasimodo, ok if you prefer you can be Esmeralda lol. Check on warnings to see the new version of Quasimodo lol

This is the cell of Marie Antoinette whose cell is preserve and made a chapel, you can see how in the second room the guards where checking her all the time, making sure that she did not escape. In the second room they were playing card the guards until the time to take her to the guillotine

During the tour you can see the cells of many of the people that where waiting for the guillotine, of course Robespierre’s is there and it is mentioned many times.

This one is an example. Depending on how much money you had you could have a better room, only for you, or shared with beds, and the ones with no money well …. You can imagine how they were lol

At Saint Chapel again but on the top floor, where the stained glasses are, also you can see statues of saints (not sure now, I think they were saints, but maybe they were kings lol.

Anyway here you can also see the stained glasses at the back. Just a beauty!

this is the arch of the entrance door to Saint Chapel. A typical example of the gothic archers.

A critic…. Why there are so many souvenirs shops on the national monuments and churches? It was incredible, and all had the same stuff…

Anyway at the end there is an area with wall painted and decorated with the symbols of the royalty (flower of lis)