Strasbourg Part I - Notre-dame: A Cathedral That Took My Breath Away

I recently visited Strasbourg, France, and honestly, I am still not over that city. It has been living rent free in my head ever since I came back. I'm currently staying in Stuttgart, and Strasbourg is basically in my back yard. It’s like two and a half hours away. TWO AND A HALF. The concept of me being able to roll out of bed and cross an international border before lunch is just freaking crazy. Europe really humbles you like that.

I purchased a return ticket with FlixBus, naturally. Budget queen at your service. The whole thing cost me about 30 euros, which I still believe has to be a crime against humanity for an international journey. It’s something I decided would be the perfect solo day trip, and in retrospect, it might have been the most genius thing I could have done. I mean, I have solo-travelled in the past, but mostly for practical reasons. This was different. This was solo sightseeing, solo wandering, solo getting lost, and solo enjoying things without having to report back to anyone in real time, apart from calling my boyfriend @bighungrypanda every time I laid eyes on something beautiful. Which was basically all the time, because Strasbourg omg is insanely gorgeous.

And speaking of my boyfriend, a hugeee thank you to you babe 😘 for planning this trip so perfectly and for helping me navigate over calls, while sitting a whole continent away. Honestly, emotional support, travel planner, and human Google Maps all in one.

Strasbourg greeted me like a city that knows it is beautiful and does not need to try too hard. Everything was lovely without being too show-offy. Old cobblestone streets, colored houses, and canals to just pause and admire the reflection in the water. Still, despite all of these, there was one place that I was the most looking forward to. This was the one place that was at the top of my mind even before I got on the bus.

Of course, I had high expectations. It’s a famous cathedral. It would be very strange if I had not been looking forward to seeing something impressive. But at the same time, I made a point to not Google the thing to death. And honestly, that decision paid off so much.

Because as soon as the cathedral made its appearance, my jaw simply dropped.

No hyperbole. No influencer theatrics. My jaw. Dropped.

First, it’s huge. Not just huge in an “oh, yeah, it’s tall” sort of way, but huge in a “this is just too much for my brain, it’s too much for my eyes, it’s too much for me to handle” sort of way. Then there’s all the detail. This isn’t just a wall, it’s a narrative written in stone, an epic tale told through statues on top of statues on top of statues, cryptic images of things, interlinking patterns, all delicate-appearing even where they consist entirely of solid rock. You look at one area and think, “Whoa,” and realize too late, “Yeah, it’s all ‘whoa.’ All of it.

I vividly remember standing there, frozen, as people passed by me, took pictures, talked, laughed, while I stood there teary eyed and goosebumps on my arms. I am not even exaggerating when I say that I felt emotionally moved. I have seen many beautiful buildings before, but this one felt different. This one felt heavy, and that’s in a good way. It’s a weightage of history, dedication, faith, and human ambition.

The most astonishing thing about all of this was that it was constructed so long ago. Centuries ago. With no power tools. No cranes. Just man power. And skill. Skilled labor. Construction on the cathedral began in 1015. And went on for CENTURIES. Centuries of construction. Centuries of blood, sweat, and tears.

And all of these people knew that they would not live to see the completion of what they were working on. This in itself gives me chills. This concept. To know that what you are creating will not be enjoyed by you.

The cathedral is constructed in mainly Gothic style, although it possesses a remnant of Romanesque architecture, especially in older parts. Gothic architecture is dramatic by design. Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and an obsession with height. The goal was to draw your eyes upward, toward the heavens. And let me tell you, it works. Your neck will hurt from looking up, but you will not care.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Strasbourg Notre Dame Cathedral is that it only has one tower. Just think about that. One tower. The original plan was to have two towers like a Gothic cathedral, but only the north tower got finished. For some years, this lone tower was the tallest structure in the world. It stood an astonishing 142 meters tall. Let that soak in. The tallest structure in the world. Constructed during the 15th century. Casual flex.

Walking closer, I noticed the rose window, which is one of the cathedral’s most iconic features. A gigantic round stain-glass window that resembles lace from light. It’s like it’s not reality; it’s as if someone just turned the brightness knob all the way up to 200 percent.

The Interiors

My usual experiences with the inside of cathedrals and churches have always been of complete silence and calm. No matter how chaotic it is outside, that chaos never seems to cross the threshold, and that contrast is honestly my favorite part. But Notre Dame is extremely famous, and since I visited close to Christmas, there were a LOT of tourists. And I mean never ending queues kind of a lot. Naturally, that meant the inside was not as quiet as I am used to, or as I had hoped it would be. It was not exactly disappointing, more like one of those moments where you think, "ah I wish this were different."

That said, the church authorities really tried their best to preserve the atmosphere. Every few minutes, an announcement would come over the speakers where a man would simply say “shh,” and like magic, everyone would fall silent. Then he would say “merci” and disappear again. It was oddly funny, oddly effective, and somehow still very respectful. Even with the noise, the space managed to hold on to its sense of calm, which honestly says a lot about how powerful the place really is.

There were also a few vending machines where you could get souvenir coins with the cathedral or other designs printed on them. I obviously got myself one. Such a perfect little keepsake, as if I even need something to remember this place. This cathedral is already imprinted in my heart forever.

One of the most fascinating things that are inside is the Strasbourg Astronomical Clock. It is not only a clock, by the way. It is an incredible mechanical work of art. The one that is inside now was built in the 19th century, although there has been a clock in this same spot since the 14th century. The clock monitors time, date, eclipses, and also flags holidays related to religions. Every day at 12:30 pm, the Strasbourg Clock has a mini show featuring figures, apostles, and symbolic characters. It is equally nerdy and enchanting.

I unfortunately missed this performance. But simply standing there, watching the clock, was interesting too. The level of detail, the accuracy, the meaning. It was another reminder of the work that went into art and science by people of the past, work that would have benefitted from the same shortcuts that we now take for granted.

Strasbourg has itself had multiple periods under French and German rule. This cathedral has seen it all. It has been the symbol of both cultures, sometimes controversially so. The French Revolution saw damage inflicted on religious monuments. World War II saw some protected, some restored. Yet it persists, still grand.

If you ever happen to be passing through Strasbourg, do not miss it. Even if you feel you’ve had your fill of cathedrals. Even if you’re not especially religious. Even if you are weary and chilled and empty. Just go. Stand there. Look up. Allow yourself to be rendered humble. Because there are some locations in the world that remind you of the incredible power of human creativity. And Strasbourg's Notre Dame Cathedral is definitely among them.