Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, Grand Est, France

5PhilFGuildford 5:00 PM Oct 5, 2022

Mesmerising
The Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg is undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark and much of the Gothic structure dates back to the 13th century. Like a lot of other cathedrals there was a previous place of worship on site and reconstruction has been necessary due to fires. It's difficult to know where to start when summarising this remarkable structure, but inevitably one of its most striking features is the fact that it only contains a single tower, positioned to one side (the left as you face it from the front), as the tower on the right was never built. The exterior is perhaps at its best after dark when the cathedral is lit up. The intricate carvings above the various entrances are so detailed that it would probably require a couple of hours to take them all in. The many statues include figures representing temptation, virgins and prophets among other things. The nave is huge as you would expect. There are beautiful stain glass windows depicting Biblical scenes such as The Crucifixion and The Last Supper, as well at St. John the Baptist. To the right hand side of the altar is the 13th century Doomsday Pillar, with more statues, and the Astronomical Clock. The latter is the subject of a presentation held late morning everyday except on Sundays and public holidays. Tickets can only be purchased on the day from the shop to the right hand side and are very cheap. The performance, in which the figures are rotated around and accompanied by a short film, isn't essential but it's well worth attending if you have time. If not then the beautiful clock can still be appreciated at other times of the day. The view from the observation platform above the main part of the cathedral is spectacular and well worth queueing for, subject to negotiating a long, winding stone staircase. The views of the city are fantastic and while I personally disapprove of graffiti, it was fascinating to see examples of this dating back centuries. For the historians among us, no visit to the Cathedral is complete without a detour to the Musee de l'Oeuvre Notre Dame (museum admission requires a fee). The latter, located a stone's throw away offers superb views of the Cathedral alongside a bounty of stunning religious artworks and plenty of items which have been removed down the years, including exterior statues relocated indoors to protect them from the elements (industrialisation then, climate change now). If like me you drink plenty of water and plan on a lengthy visit there are underground public toilets to the right of the main entrance. These were free of charge while I was there. All in all, Strasbourg's cathedral is among the finest in France. I haven't been to all of them, but I've seen enough to call this one of the very best,

5hanna718 5:00 PM Nov 2, 2021

A must see
Beautiful gothic cathedral. You could spend hours just looking at all the details on the exterior. Inside is similiarly impressive. Such a massive space, designed and built centuries ago. The stained glass, including rose window, are fantastic. One small thing I thought was clever is that they had card machines to pay for votives, so if you don't have 2, or 5, or 10 euro cash on you, you can still purchase. If you have the stamina (and not a severe fear of heights), I recommend doing the tower climb. It is not free (I think it was 8 euro maybe), and be prepared for a line especially if you are there on a weekend, but the views from the top, and getting to see the cathedral from such a different perspective is worth it. Watch the mass times, and keep in mind that on Sunday the astronomical clock doesn't run.