At 6:45 pm every night in early December, the bells ring and the light from the bell tower gradually spreads to the roof, turning Notre Dame Cathedral into the center of the festival night. Hundreds of people wait for nearly an hour to capture the moment of "lighting up", their phones raised high, and the space in front of the statue of Our Lady of Peace is filled with laughter.
This year's decorative highlights
Notre Dame Cathedral is decorated for Christmas for the third time since its restoration in 2017. The highlight is 1,000 km of LED lights, double the number from last year, creating a golden strip of light covering the campus. Along the tiled roof, there are more festive motifs such as globes, stars, and bells; two zinc towers are equipped with LED lights to create the shape of Christmas trees.
The lighting system uses LED bulbs that do not emit heat, limiting the impact on trees and the structure of the building under renovation, while saving operating costs. Inside the campus, the nativity scene and miniature scenes recreating the story of the Nativity are where many people stop to admire and take photos.
Moment 18:45: hunting for beautiful angles from above
On the evening of December 5, from the upper floor lobby of a nearby shopping mall, many people were there an hour in advance to wait for the moment of lighting up. At exactly 6:45 p.m., the lights came on with the ringing of bells, revealing the entire tiled roof and the brilliant bell tower below. This viewing spot is free to enter, so it is crowded every night.
Le Vy, a tourist, shared her feelings about the “bright, magical space with thousands of lights”. No matter where you stand, you can clearly feel the festival running throughout the square.
The atmosphere around the Paris Commune Square
Below, the area around the statue of Our Lady of Peace is where many people sit, chat and take photos. On neighboring streets such as Dong Khoi, Cong Xa Paris, Le Duan, passersby often stop to take photos, causing traffic to sometimes be partially congested at night. The central area also attracts many foreign tourists to stroll around and enjoy the night view.
A glimpse into history: from 19th-century structures to minor basilicas
The church is located in the Paris Commune Square, construction began in 1877 and was completed after three years. In 1959, the Vatican conferred the title of Minor Basilica on the structure. Every Christmas, this place becomes a meeting place for locals and tourists to visit, attend mass and join in the year-end festivities.
Practical information for short trips
- Lights on time: 18:45. From around 18:00, the area starts to get crowded, many people come nearly an hour early to choose a viewing spot.
- This year's decorations: 1,000 km of LED lights; roof tiles and Christmas tree lights on two zinc towers.
- Popular viewing spots: the upper lobby of a nearby shopping mall (free entry) and the area around the statue of Our Lady of Peace.
- Travel: Late evening there may be local congestion on Dong Khoi, Cong Xa Paris, and Le Duan streets.
- Event: Christmas Mass takes place on December 24 and 25.
Suggested 60-90 minute experience
- Arrive 45-60 minutes before 6:45 pm to go to the upper floor lobby of the nearby shopping mall, choose an angle that covers the roof and bell tower.
- 18:45: Record the moment the lights turn on from the bell tower to the roof.
- Afterwards, stroll around the grounds to see the nativity scene and Christmas displays.
- Finish with a stroll around the Paris Commune Square and surrounding streets to feel the festive atmosphere at night.
If you love the festive atmosphere, this is a short stop but rich in visual experiences: lights, bells, bustling crowds and rare aerial shots every Christmas season.
Source: https://baonghean.vn/nha-tho-duc-ba-khoanh-khac-len-den-mua-giang-sinh-10314197.html
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