Notre Dame is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its 850th anniversary in 2013. One of the major projects is the installation of nine new bells in the bell tower.
From now until February 25th the bells will be on display to the public in the center of the cathedral before they are installed in the bell tower. Once installed, the new bells will have their premiere ringing on March 23 the week before Easter. I was there yesterday morning and you are allowed to touch the bells. I ran my hand across the cold, hard, smooth steel.
Eight of the bells, with a combined weight of 23 tons, were fabricated in a foundry in Villedieu-les-Poeles a village in Normandy. The ninth, called the Great Bell, weighs in at an astounding 6,023 kilos and has the words French Hail Mary embossed on it. It was financed by the foundation of Liliane Bettencourt, the heiress to the L’Oreal fortune and the richest woman in France. The bells are named after the saints Jean-Marie, Maurice, Benoit-Joseph, Steven, Marcel, Dennis, Anne-Genevieve, Gabriel, and the Great Bell, Mary.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
Very cool post about the bells! I'm not Catholique, but I love the churches of Paris. There aren't a lot of places that have been around for 850 years.
Thanks,
-Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Mings | February 07, 2013 at 07:19 AM
Truly astonishing and beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing these photos!
Posted by: Benita | February 07, 2013 at 03:34 PM
I agree! I too saw them yesterday. I was so moved I went back in the afternoon. I loved watching and photographing the people touching them. It was very moving to watch all the people and see their feelings about the bells. What a fantastic idea to display them! I touched each one proudly and was awestruck by the experience and opportunity. What an amazing time to live in Paris. Usually I feel all the history has already happened. This feels like history today and now and should absolutely not be missed!
Posted by: Barbara | February 07, 2013 at 03:35 PM
Thank you so much for this post about the bells. They will be up and ringing by the time I make it to Paris in May. Oh, how I'd love to touch one!
Posted by: Evelyn | February 07, 2013 at 04:41 PM
Richard, do you know what they are going to do with the old bells that they take down?
I won't be in Paris until mid-May so will miss seeing them in person. Thanks for showing the photos of them.
Posted by: Colleen | February 07, 2013 at 04:54 PM
How I wish I could be there right now! Your pictures are just so lovely! I've struck out this time...I arrive after they'll be put up and I leave 2 days before they'll ring. I'm counting on you to be there to listen.
Posted by: Cheryl | February 08, 2013 at 06:09 AM