NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

Built on the site of an ancient Rhenish basilica dating from 1015 and destroyed by fire, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt, the construction of Notre-Dame was spread over three centuries between 1176 and 1439. The cathedral of Strasbourg is certainly one of the masterpieces of medieval architecture, mixing the Romanesque style of its apse and transept with the Gothic style of its nave and façade.

Its high spire, which rises to 143 metres, was for a long time the highest monument in Christendom. It gives all its beauty and coherence to this masterpiece of pink sandstone of which Victor Hugo said: "I saw Chartres, I saw Antwerp. I needed Strasbourg, a prodigy of the gigantic and the delicate. »

It is impossible to detail all its riches here, but let us mention the rose window, the tympanums, the stained glass windows in the nave, the oldest of which date from the 13th century, the pillar of angels, the late Gothic pulpit and the organ case decorated with curious figures.

The astronomical clock (1547) is worth a look. It displays a strange phenomenon discovered in 1974: at each equinox and at a specific time, if the weather permits, a ray of sunlight passes through a stained glass window and illuminates the Christ on the pulpit in green.

As much as the Romanesque buildings seduce by the purity of their lines, the Gothic, characterized here as "flamboyant", impresses by its architectural complexity and the impression of increased verticality.

You can access the platform that forms the base of the six floors of openwork turrets, which offers an exceptional view from a height of 66 m. It is reached via 332 steps.

With more than 4 million visitors per year, Strasbourg Cathedral is the second most visited cathedral in France after Notre-Dame de Paris and its 12 million visitors, well before Reims and Chartres.

As the mother church of the diocese of Strasbourg, housing the seat - the cathedra - of the bishop, the cathedral has belonged to the State since the Revolution. However, according to a tradition dating back to the 13th century, the city of Strasbourg contributes to its maintenance through the Fondation de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame (OND).

As the seat of a chapter of canons and a parish led by an archpriest, the cathedral welcomes many worshippers during Sunday and weekday services. A dozen preachers take turns at Sunday Masses, but the cathedral is also open to concerts and other cultural events, while respecting its religious mission and its spiritual influence.