I came to Paris with my family, initially thinking that seeing the architecture and taking photos at Notre Dame would be enough. However, since we were already there, I decided to try a Chinese-speaking guided tour.
This decision proved to be absolutely right. It was probably the most worthwhile guided tour of our entire European trip, as I learned a lot of religious knowledge I didn't know before.
The guide, I think his surname was Li, spoke very naturally, not just reading from a textbook, but connecting the history, architecture, religious stories, and development of Notre Dame with the development of Paris, incorporating a lot of information. Many things I initially thought I wouldn't understand became clear after listening. Especially the stories of the sculptures, rose windows, and fire restoration – seeing them after hearing them made all the difference.
Europe is full of churches, and not understanding them can be quite frustrating. After today's tour, I felt like I had a sudden enlightenment. There was a small regret, though: some areas inside Notre Dame aren't free and require separate admission.
We met at 4:30 PM today, and waited in line for 10 minutes to enter. The pace of the tour was excellent; the content was rich but not tiring, and there was no feeling of being rushed. We could ask questions anytime during the tour, and the guide patiently answered them. He was highly professional and very approachable. Today, after the Notre Dame tour, we also visited the Latin Quarter of Shakespeare and Company. This wasn't part of the tour itinerary, but the teacher gave us extra time for free because we enjoyed it. By the way, you can also pay to climb to the top of Notre Dame, but the kids couldn't climb, so we skipped it...
Afterwards, we went back inside Notre Dame on our own and watched a mass. We found that because we had the guided tour, we understood many parts much better than before when we just took photos.
If it's your first time in Paris, I highly recommend not trying to see it on your own. Notre Dame is free, but the guided tour is definitely worth it; it significantly enhances the entire experience. It was one of the most worthwhile activities on our trip, and I've already recommended it to anyone planning a trip to Paris.
Also, try to go after 4:30 PM, otherwise the square gets very sunny. Also, Notre Dame has a dress code; you can't wear anything too revealing...
Taryn
