Mysteries of Christmas in Paris
Address: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris, 6 Paris Notre-Dame, Place Jean Paul II, 75004 Paris
Arrondissement: 4
Begins: December
Ends: January
Hours: Every ½ hour from 10am-7pm daily
Tickets: EUR6, EUR3 for concessions
WWW: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr
Phone: 33 (01) 42 34 56 10
Every half an hour on the steps of the Notre Dame Cathedral, from December through January, a show entitled “Mysteries of Christmas” is performed. Each year the church enchants crowds with their telling of the nativity story, accompanied by music from composers such as Vilvaldi and Gonoud. The show is further enhanced with the soaring cathedrals beautiful Christmas lights, intricate stained glass and eerie gargoyles in the background.
Once the show is over you can take a leisurely stroll through the church, which is known to be the epitome of French Gothic architecture. The structure is still an active Roman Catholic church so you might be able to catch a free musical performance inside. If not, you can still wind your way through the eerie maze of halls full of ghostly statues. Make your way to the legendary South Tower and after climbing the mountainous staircase, you will come face to face with the hideous Gargoyles that kept hunchback Quasimodo company in Victor Hugo’s novel.
After you descend the South Tower, if the weather permits and you have children tagging along, there is a playground on the same side of the building. As you can see, the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral has much to see and much to do and is a worthwhile trip, especially for travelers with children.
Paris Metro Stations for the Mysteries of Christmas
To get to the Notre Dame Cathedral you will need to get on Metro Line 4 and get off at the Cite stop. A tip to ensure that you don’t miss your stop is that the lighting at the station is an unusual shade of green!
Paris Hotels for the Mysteries of Christmas
Located between the infamous Hotel de Ville and the old world Bastille prison, 2 star Hotel Pointe Rivoli is just what you have been looking for. The price is EUR87 per night and features exposed beams in the lounge as well as stone walls throughout the quaint premises.
Don’t let the 2 star rating fool you when it comes to the historic Hotel de la Place des Vosges. The building was built in 1650 at the same time as the square that shares its name. At one point it housed Henri IV’s mules and horses. Hotel de la Place des Vosges is no longer a stable but a completely remodeled, well-designed property filled with beautifully beamed ceilings, tile rooms and a great location near the square Place des Vosges, one of the city’s oldest squares. Book your stay now for EUR166 per night.
For EUR207 for one night, you can book a stay at the 3 star St Paul le Marais Hotel. Once a Parisian convent, this hotel is now a central spot that is surrounded by not only Notre Dame Cathedral but the Louvre and Place des Vosges. The hotel has many fine features like a relaxing lounge, an entertaining bar and a courtyard full of greenery to enhance your stay.
