Advantages: Free Entry to the Church
Disadvantages: The queue to get in!

...When my partner announced he was taking me to Paris for the weekend, there was only 1 thing I wanted to do. Visit Notre Dame. I had always wanted to see Notre Dame since I was about 6, and now, 13 years later, I was going to get to see it. We took the eurostar to Paris, and stayed in the centre of the city. We took the metro (and he bought me a rose during a metro train change), and went to visit Notre Dame. We walked around the corner into the square in front of the cathedral, and it took my breath away. I felt tears in my eyes. I was amazingly over-whelmed. This was something I had been waiting years to see, and now, here I was. We queued up behind the other 50-60 people waiting to get in. We didn't mind as it seemed to be moving quite quickly. After about 5 mins, we were at the front. We then realised that we didn't have to pay... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Its Magnificent
Disadvantages: Too many people

...The sun is shining! A casual walk down the Seine has chilled me out after my recent height skirmish and littlemissy and I have both tried out some absolutely gorgeous ice cream. The stroll has brought us to our next victim… sorry destination I mean. The Notre-Dame Cathedral, which after yesterday I really hope to get inside this time. Considering that the cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th century it is truly innovational. I have never seen a building that is so exquisite in my entire life. It is that stunning. Thanks to the tourist infestation yesterday littlemissy and I had not been able to explore the innards of the Notre-Dame. However it had given us the chance to get a good look around the exterior of the cathedral in its entirety and take lots of photos of gargoyles (woo hoo). The cathedral at certain points, even though... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Enjoyable songs.
Disadvantages: Slightly sad for younger viewers in certain scenes.

...High up in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral lives a hunchbacked man who rings the bells every morning, wishing he could join the people down there in the streets but his Master Frollo forbids him to ever go down there. When he hears the celebrations of the annual festival of fools, Quasimodo just can't help himself and sneaks out of the bell tower to see the festival... A smash hit for all ages, showing people that beauty is not just on the outside. The DVD contains deleted scenes, the making and history of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and a interactive game controlled by your remote. The movie has been translated into several languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew and Greek.) and there are subtitles for people with hearing problems. I love this movie, the voice actor for Frollo (Tony Jay) was the best singer out of all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good story, lots of action
Disadvantages: serious theme, might be unsuitable for very young

...Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame was released in 1996 and was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. While it was quite different from Disneys previous work, it did well and it is one of my favourite classic Disney movies. The movie is availabe on DVD between £9 - £17, depending on where you buy it. The cheapest place to buy this movie online is Amazon.co.uk for £9.97 This movie runs at 91 minutes. It's suitable for all ages, however one of the scenes where Quasimodo goes to the Festival Of Fools upset me (and is still quite hard for me to watch!) when I was younger, so parents might want to watch it themselves first. It has been said by many that it is not a movie for kids, but I'll leave it up for the parents to decide. I was 10 when I first seen this and I was fine, apart from the FOF scene. There is quite an extensive list... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Grand example of church history and architecture
Disadvantages: none

...Notre Dame Cathedral is a Parisian Catholic church which welcomes parishioners from all over the world, for worship, as well as travellers who come to appreciate over 700 years of divinity and fine architecture. I've been past it on several visits but this year fate called me in on a historic day, one remembered in sadness: the day the Pope John Paul II died. My sister and I walked around this massive, beautiful interior and we slowly realised the priest was praying sadly, amid holy incense and across the floor a growing 'pond' of candles around a photograph of the ailing Pope . We thought he had died but other visitors quietly advised us that he was probably in his last hours. That evening he died and the next evening we went back to Notre Dame and took part in his special Mass, attended by the French Prime Minister. The entire... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Usual high class animation
Disadvantages: Slightly predictable

...The Hunchback of Notre Dame is another fine animation film from Disney. The characters are all well defined, and the storyline typically pitches good against evil with good coming out on top. The music is catchy, and the animation of its usual very high standard. All in all there are no major faults with the film at all, and both children and adults are sure to enjoy it. However, I do have to confess to being a little disappointed. All the standard Disney fare was included in the film, yet my attention tended to wander from time to time. Maybe it is the fact that is is a familiar story, or possibly because it is a little predictable, but whatever the reason this will never be a favourite film of mine.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Charming Hotel in an Unsurpassable Location
Disadvantages: Small Bathrooms...Otherwise Few & Far Between.

...Hotel de Notre Dame, Paris The four-star Hotel de Notre Dame is a small & picturesque 'boutique' hotel located in the very heart of Paris. Its location is quite simply superb. Although set in a quiet and attractive side-street, it is little more than a stone's throw from the Seine, and is situated right on the fringe of the vibrant Latin quarter. Some rooms have views above the rooftops to the Notre Dame, and the bells of the cathedral can be heard tolling across the river. I've stayed at this delightful little hotel three times now, and unless that proverbial ship comes in, enabling me to stay at the George V, I doubt I'd ever consider staying anywhere else in Paris ever again. The entrance to the hotel is burgundy in colour and somewhat unprepossessing in appearance; in fact, it rather resembles an old, converted shop... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Big, magnificent building
Disadvantages: Rather too big - slightly scary

...What a contradictive title but if you go to the Notre Dame, you will feel the same way. She doesn't just look magnificent outside, but greater inside. I think I'll start from the outside. Situated on the beautiful Ile de Cite (Isle of City - Centre Paris) it is pretty just as it was in the novel/film 'Notre Dame'. There is a lovely square in front so peaceful-looking yet crowded with tourists (and of course, souvenir shops!). It looks like an ordinary church however if you look carefully there are 28 carved gods looking down from the front and angels on the doors. Normally the main door (or gate even?) isn't open and people go in from the side door. I went in Easter so there was loads of people however once you entered the Dame it suddenly becomes silent which was amazing. There are sacred music going on which you can't help to develop... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A beautifully real story that will rend the heart
Disadvantages: Some of the description can be a little long-winded

...Better known as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Notre Dame de Paris was written by Victor Hugo as a tribute to the Parisian cathedral and the beauty of its lost Renaissance city. The main character is Quasimodo, the grotesque hunchback and cathedral bell ringer, adopted as a baby and brought up by the serious-minded, emotionless archdeacon Claude Frollo. Both Quasimodo and Frollo find themselves driven into a passionate obsession for a young and beautiful gypsy girl - Esmerelda. But Esmerelda - kind-hearted but a little shallow - only has eyes for the handsome, vainglorious Captain Phoebus. The complex, interweaving love story is bound to end in tragedy. The richness of Hugo's narrative left me spellbound. Each and every character - especially Pierre Gringoire - a flawed, poverty stricken writer also in love with Esmerelda and lost... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Stunning Views, Free Entry To Inside of Cathedral
Disadvantages: Narrow Passageways, Poorly Lit inside (adds to ambience though!)

...Located in the very heart of Paris and on the Cité island in the middle of the river Seine, Notre Dame cathedral represents the apitome of gothic design. Although construction began at around 1160, it wasn't until 90 years later that the two towers on the west side were erected and another 550 years when the grand spire was added. The towers were to have had spires of their own, but these were never completed. In 1804, it was at the cathedral that Napoleon was crowned as Emperor of France. The 386 steps that take you to 69 meters (226 feet) from street level are well worth the climb, as you are rewarded with stunning views of central paris and beyond and the Gargoyles and statues that are built on the roof and facade just cannot be appreciated from ground level. Inside the cathedral the three stain-glassed rose windows are nearly 10... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful