This is the Portal of the Last Judgement at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Probably one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, construction was started in 1163 and it opened to the public in 1345. Notre Dame is a marvel of gothic architecture, filled with detail inside and out – these doors are just one example. I particularly love the curling hinges and the way they are almost like lace set against the wood.
There are actually three sets of doors on the front of the building – the Portal of the Virgin, the Portal of the Last Judgement and the Portal of St Anne. When you visit, they bring you in through the left hand set (the Virgin) and you exit through the right hand side (St Anne), having completed a circuit of the cathedral. We visited on a bitterly cold day, just after New Year, yet the cathedral was still full of visitors, the Nativity a gleaming frosty display, candles lighting up chapel ceilings painted with stars.
I took this quick photo looking down the central nave- it is a bit blurry, as I’m not sure I was supposed to be taking photos inside. However, you can see the rose window and get a sense of the columns and grandeur. You’ll also notice a whole lot of orbs floating around. My daughter took another photo from lower down (she was four at the time) and there are no orbs in hers – however, they seem to be having a party in mine. Of course Notre Dame is an ancient building and there were lots of people there that day, stirring up dust. Still, I wonder. I’ve written a couple of other posts about orbs – interesting how they show up in some photos and not others.
As usual, my Thursday door is part of Norm 2.0’s Thursday Doors Challenge. So pop on over and check out the other doors from around the world, or add one of your own.
Helen Glynn Jones 
Wow! That second photo is amazing!
Thank you! It’s a bit blurry, but I think that adds to it, to be honest 🙂
It definitely does!.
I love that building. The rose window is interesting for all sorts of reasons, especially as it is such an old one… the giveaway is that the tracery ‘spokes’ don’t go straight up to 12 o’clock, but sit either side of it, giving the impression of cyclical movement 🙂
Oh, that’s very interesting… According to my friend Wikipedia, the rose window was put in around the mid 1200’s, so it is definitely very old. I hadn’t realised that about the spokes, I’ll have to keep it in mind (next time I’m in St Alban’s Cathedral I’ll be checking out their window as well). Thanks for the insight 🙂
It doesn’t always hold true, but often the original ones unrestored are like that.
I love the orbs.
They’re pretty cool, hey? 🙂
Beautiful. I do hope to visit that place one day soon; I’ve heard/read so much about it and your photos just make we want to go that much more. Good choice Helen 🙂
Thanks, Norm – glad you like it 🙂 Paris is a beautiful city, one of my favourites and well worth a visit.
Funny story about Notre Damme…Greg an I were in Paris, got off the train at the wrong stop so we walked around for a bit. I saw this cool looking church and said oh let’s go and see that. As we got closer we realised it wasn’t a cool church, it was Notre Damme lol
Oh, and did you stumble upon a big metal tower and think, that’s cool, as well? 😉 Kidding of course, Paris is a bit like that, isn’t it? Stuff just appears from around corners and you think ‘that looks familiar,’ and then it’s the Louvre or something 🙂
Well from there we were ok. We found the eifell tower but only got up to second level (thank god)
Oh, I’ve never been up the Tower – I’m not a fan of heights or elevators, plus every time I’ve been there the line has been huge to get on (that’s my excuse, anyway) 😉
Those doors look like they could be from Ambeth! I saw Note Dame once years ago from the river bank lit up against the night sky… it was spectacular! Those orbs look like they could be tiny spots of rain on your lense. Its a lovely effect, anyhow!
Yes, I think they might have crept out of my subconscious when I was describing the doors to Ambeth’s Palace 🙂
As for the orbs, I’m not sure. My daughter’s photo was with the same camera, and there are no orbs. Plus I took another shot and there are still a few orbs there, but they’ve moved. And it wasn’t raining, even though it was a very cold day. I’d be more inclined towards dust for a natural explanation… But then I’m not sure 🙂
Well its a mystery, for sure! 😊
Last time I went to Notre Dame it was so crowded we could barely get inside! Love the inside shot even if it’s a little blurry!
Thanks Jan – I think because it was so cold and just after New Year it wasn’t so busy the day we went (though there were still plenty of people there).
Very nice choice of a door to share. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Dan- thank you too 🙂
Beautiful photographs! That door is amazing!
Thanks Linda!
More orbs…. They follow you… I think you must have people watching over you.
Thanks Sacha – I think we all do, really. But it’s been interesting looking back over my photos and seeing how many times I’ve managed to capture orbs. Hmmm…
Don’t think I’ve ever caught one! I’ll have to have a look at some of my old hard copy photos
You might be surprised! Let me know if you find anything 🙂
Will do
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