On Day 5, Al, Debra and myself started the day in Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. It took over 180 years to build, but after the French Revolution and the place being trashed, it fell
into disrepair and was being used as a food storage site. The church was going to be demolished, but after public protest, a restoration was begun in 1845 and lasted almost 25 years.
Our next stop was the Sainte-Chapelle, the personal chapel of King Louis IX, begun in 1238 and consecrated in 1248, and made to house his collection of Passion relics, including
Christ's Crown of Thorns. Lastly, we took the train to Versailles to see Louis XIV's massive Palace of Versailles. The lineup was long and winding, but moved reasonably well - an employee
estimated 3 hours, but we got in around an hour and a half. The rooms and decor are quite spectacular.
|
A wooden carving in the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral that illustrates appearances of the risen Christ.
|
|
1 is Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.
2 is nave (central aisle) of the cathedral.
3 is stained glass above the pulpit of the cathedral.
4 and 5 is the rose window in the center of the church on the northern side.
6 to 11 show scenes of the risen Christ carved in wood from the 14th century - 6 Appearing to Mary Magdeline, then the Holy Woman, 7 Appearing to Peter and John, then disciples at Emmaus,
8 Appearing to the disciples at Emmaus, then in the Upper Room,9 Appearing to Thomas, then to the disciples on Lake Tiberias, 10 Appearing to the disciples in Galilee, then Ascension Day.
12 is a double windowed chapel to the rear of the church.
|
|
|
