It’s quite easy to get information about concerts taking place in Notre Dame. We used for an example classictic.com. From there you can purchase yourself seating places which reserve you seats in the cathedral during concert. This online reservation gives you reserved tickets as well, which you can either purchase on an earlier day or even right before the concert.

We chose a Gregorian chant concert which took place in Dame on 29 December 2009. Since we did not fancy standing up, we bought our tickets through this website classictic.com and got our tickets for the show on the same morning from the Dame’s ticket office (just enter the main door and you’ll see the desks in front of you).

While getting the tickets is the easy part and even the neighborhood does not look as scary as we thought, it’s getting in, that’s the problem. Remember, the Dame has two doors which are used and the one on the right is open daily. When we got to the cathedral, there were two lines forming, the one on the right was longer thus we presumed they were the ones without tickets, since we knew that the ticket office was also on the right. Hence we stood on the left side. The concert was supposed to start 20.30 thus people were encouraged to come 30 minutes earlier for this was the time when the doors would open.

It was around 20.10 when the doors finally opened on both sides. The tickets for our line were checked just in front of the fence that was temporarily built in front of the cathedral (just for the concert I should add). For some unknown reason the doors were closed as quickly they were opened at the first time. Since the explanations were given in French we were left in the dark. I must say that in addition to utter frustration I felt confused and also angry because the mob was just pressing together towards the gates. I honestly felt like I couldn’t breathe. This and the frustration that I had paid for my tickets and I could see the other line who still had to purchase them from inside, moving and entering the cathedral. I was squeezed between people and couldn’t move on my own so they practically squashed me in when the gates finally opened up. And you think that they are grownups! I have in a rock-concert full of teenagers and it was fairly the same, only difference is about 30 years of age and entirely different music.

Much to my surprise, it was so calm and quiet inside. It almost felt like I was dreaming the horror I just went through. We easily found our seats clearly marked as classictic.com ones. It was somewhat surprising to hear a couple right behind us sitting on reserved seats to speak fluent French and when a lady came to check if they had eligible tickets to sit there they claimed they did not understand any French or English for that matter. It was bizarre, since they only won like two rows or so and there were many seats available.

The show itself was depressing. The performers sang from different places. I understand that the intention was to show various acoustic effects but it seems that either the building is not designed for it or requires more singers. Oh, and the people were just awful. Talking, coughing, playing with phones etc. Honestly, like in kinder-garden. Since there was like six performers it was a rather poor sound and with other annoying factors the show was not enjoyable at all. Unfortunately.

It’s the small island in the very center of Paris. It has Notre Dame (I bet you know all about the stories and probably the book, yes, it’s the very same building all the stories are about), La Conciergerie (the first royal palace and later on used as a prison) and Sainte-Chapelle. They are the oldest buildings left on the island, the remains of medieval ages in Paris. Well, not the only remains in the entire Paris, but on the island definitely. Keep in mind that the Cité is small; you can easily walk across the island.

And so we did. We approached the island from Pont Neuf (oldest standing bridge in Paris). I must admit the sight is somewhat immense. It was probably the rain that made it a bit blurry and not as shiny, but it was remarkable nevertheless. First thing we visited was La Conciergerie, the former prison and palace, which is partly opened to public now. There isn’t a long queue usually so getting in isn’t quite as much as headache as for Louvre for an example. Probably because there’s not much to see and the entrance fee is not worth it in my opinion. Yes, you get to see some old stones, four settings of situations and a few historic items along with them. If you have time and some money and you have already done the other 78 things to see and do in Paris, it’s probably an option for you, but don’t say I did not warn you.

Notre Dame in Paris is not as big as you might expect after visiting other cities and even small towns in France, but I guess it’s the aura of the place and the legends that make it so special. Anyhow, you will have the opportunity to enter both towers which give you access to the roofs and from there to the view to the most of the city. But be prepared for a queue almost as long as the cathedral itself. Plus you have to pay for it, whereas Paris itself is situated also on mountains so you can get a free access to this view as well. Anyways, the cathedral itself is free (apart from crypt, which you can enter from the inside and which does not have this long line of people waiting) and again, packed with loads of people. You literally have to follow the flow of people. And I must say I have seen prettier are more immense cathedrals in much quieter places. It’s not a must see if you have seen large, decorated and renovated churches and cathedrals.

In front of Notre Dame is a very small thing which practically nobody notices and thus is much more interesting – the Point Zero. It’s the place where all the distances are measured in France. I loved the fact that no one took interest into it and yet it’s important in everyday life. Noticing the small things is what gets me to tell you the truth.

The Cité has also a building called Sainte-Chapelle (a huge church with two halls), which we did not visit due to huge queue and rain which we would have had to endure if we were to visit it. I guess if such sorts of things are for you, be prepared to wait for it for a long time.

To summarize, Ile de la Cité is definitely worth the time and walk, but just not perhaps the money.