Breakfast at Notre Dame

Bear has been moaning why haven't we visited Notre Dame properly what with all these day trips out of town off to Reims and Chartres? After giving it some thought I decided he had a point.

Breakfast at Notre Dame requires a croissant 🥐 amandes (not eaten inside the cathedral s'il vous plait).

Visiting Notre Dame super early will serve you well. We left the house at 8 AM.

We had the place almost to ourselves.

Bliss.

Lovely peace and quiet.

An hour later at 9:00 the tours arrive.

Still, when you look up, you don’t see the selfies

The north rose window is spectacular, the finest of Notre Dame's 3 rose windows.

Building work began way back in the 12th century. It was not until some 300 years later construction finally came to an end.

An adorable mini replica Notre Dame Limoge box in the gift shop.

For the artistically-inclined - a mini porcelain easel and palette.

Perfect view for a visiting artist painting on the bridge.

Notre Dame is completely accessible when you go early. You avoid the crowds.

If like me, you're becoming obsessed with Medieval France and Gothic architecture, this is the book. It's hard to find here in English (unless you go to Amiens evidently). OPrinciples and Elements of Medieval Church Architecture in Western Europe< is a short(only 40 pages), yet tall book full of detailed, excellent diagrams. I'm hoping for my copy arrives soon. It was outside the door and chocked full of interesting stuff like 'A theology of light' - how architects controlled the streams of light entering the space. An amazing book.

By the way did you know gargoyles, the drainage system that line Notre Dame's roof, got their name because of the gargling noise made by the water draining.

On to my work-in-progress, the Paris Map drawing for rue Montorgueil.

Maison Stohrer (founded in 1730) at No. 51 is la creme de la cream of the street and the centerpiece of my next map.

Stohrer invented the heavenly baba au rhum. I had to munch down a few to find the inner essence of the street. I've included in the map: Charles Chocolat, La Fermette fromagerie, Cafe Montorgueil and Mariage Freres (a newcomer but it's a lovely shade of yellow like Stohrer).

Do you have some favorite places on rue Montorgueil to share?

Do tell SVP.