What are the most notable architectural and artistic features of Notre-Dame?
Posted on Jan 08, 2026 / Travel
Notre-Dame de Paris is celebrated for its outstanding Gothic architecture, featuring ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and expansive stained glass windows that bathe the interior in colourful light. The cathedral’s west façade is dominated by its twin towers and three sculpted portals that depict biblical scenes and saints, serving as a visual narrative of Christian theology. Its iconic rose windows, especially the north and south roses, are masterpieces of medieval stained glass art, each covering nearly a thousand square metres of vibrant imagery. Gargoyles and chimeras perch along the exterior as decorative water spouts and symbolic guardians of the sacred space. The interior’s nave and choir display harmonious proportions and structural elegance that contribute to Notre-Dame’s spiritual ambience. Generations of artisans contributed to its decorative program, making the cathedral not just a place of worship but also a showcase of human creativity. These features draw visitors and scholars alike to study and admire their craftsmanship and symbolic richness.
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