Medieval beauty...
Written: Apr 08 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Architecture, decor, vestments, art, displays...
Cons: You can't get into the upper cloisters
The Bottom Line: If anything personifies beauty, other than nature itself, this is it.
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| Mattels's Full Review: Nôtre Dame |
There are churches, and then there's Notre Dame, which in my esteem would have to be one of the most beautiful churches ever created.
Central to Paris, this beauty is the focal point of an island that may as well be an island for Notre Dame alone.
The exterior architecture is something to marvel at, the arches sweep gracefully everywhere, and every inch of those arches is covered in carvings. The carvings are of exquisite design, and whilst most deign to picture various saints, Notre Dame does unfortunatly fall into the medieval trap of picturing sinners in their punishment. Despite the fact, however, that some of the carvings have thew effect of being disturbing, they are none the less amazing.
Before we enter the church, let us remain on the outside and pay our 20FF to go up one of the towers onto the very roof of Notre Damn. Despite the fact that builders 700 years dead would never have thought we in the year 2001 would be touristing all over their roof, these upper levels have had no less architectural care taken over them. The awesome arches up here provide for a fascinating dranage system, and is of such fine workmanship, it looks nothing so much as a spider's web made of stone.
Once in the church, one can marvel at the masonry once more, but far more importantly than that, the stunning art works which make Notre Dame the formidable thing it is today. The stained glass windows are of beauty unsurpassed. The carving of the wood work is something that I'm not entirely sure we will ever see the skill to do again. The paintings decorating the walls put any Roman Basilica to shame. In essence, the interior personifies what I think beauty is.
I would recommend anyone go there, and get lost amongst the cloisters for hours, lost in the beauty that was created 700 years past.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
Mattels
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Member: Matt Firth
Location: Sydney Australia
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 39 members
About Me:
Made a brief return...maybe I shall make another...
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