Shaking hands with a chimera - have you climbed Notre Dame?
 

Looking forward to touring the tower of Notre Dame this year, and would appreciate hearing about your experience - the chimera and gargoyles have to be amazing!
Thanks for your insight---

Have done it a few times - remember wooden ladders for the final stage though not sure now but remember that it was not the easiest climb - this was some years ago and don't know now

saw the Grande Bourdon - or the big bell that tolls out the hours - neat to be there when it is toll (it tolls for thee...) as well at pigeon 'dust'

yes eyeball to gargoyles and monsters and a grand view of the Parvis down below and along the Seine to the west.

A highlight of my Parisian experiences. Took my then young son along and he really loved it.

Well worth it IMO - i believe Paris Museum Pass covers it.

Yes, the PMP covers it - but with two caveats: no line jumping, and the lines can be horrendous. Plan carefully.

I did it33 years ago. I was recently looking at the pictures I took. spectacular views, but it makes my knees go to jelly just thinking about standing there at that height. But I am glad that I did it as I would never do it now.

We did it earlier this week (April 9). The time in line was longer than the time we spent queued at the Eiffel Tower last Saturday (April 4). (BTW, we attempted to ascend the Eiffel Tower again Thursday evening: a strike by security there closed it). The views are spectacular. The stairwell is narrow and narrows as one ascends.

As mentioned above, the Carte Musee [Paris Museum Pass] does not provide shortened access. Always good advice: go before the site opens and line-up, if you wish to minimize your wait. The wait then will be far less than after the site opens.

We did this with our kids years ago. It is definitely worth the climb to see the bell, the gargoyles and the great view.

Beautiful views from here... make sure you get the iconic photographs of the gargoyles. The queues tend to be long, but you can gauge them since they form up outside. Best time for viewing is evening, when you can see Paris light up as you watch; I much prefer this over the crowds at Sacre Coeur.

This is one of the things I love to do in Paris no matter how many times I've been there. I usually go early and get in line awaiting the opening. Last time we were there, our 5yo ad 7yo did it too!

(btw, the ladder part is only to see the bells, you can skip this part and still see the magnificent view of Paris).

Palenque, I don't remember a ladder and I'm pretty sure I would! (I hate ladders). I will look out for it this next time - I still won't climb it unless it's a stepladder. :)

Flygirl:

There is a wooden ladder to the largest bell. Climbed it 3 days ago.

Wow! I did this several years ago and don't remember a ladder to the bell. How tall is the ladder and how scary is it? Is there a separate one to go down?

There is one short (perhaps 10') wooden ladder, not a step ladder, leading to Emmanuel, the largest bell. That bell is a detour off the main perimeter, to the left as the line proceeds one way along the top tier of the tour. I've read and been told that the bourdon (largest) bell rings only on special occasions. We missed that detour on our last trip.

Besides the gargoyles, which are fascinating, the attraction to me is the height of the tower. High enough to give an interesting perspective, but low enough to see things well.

For a similar perspective in the western part of the city you might climb the Arc de Triumph. The Paris Museum Pass permits you to avoid that ticket line.

I have a few pictures to share from our climb up the tower in 2003 and again last year.
http://tinyurl.com/NDTower1
http://tinyurl.com/NDTower2

Well, you collectively have given me much to mull, and I do intend to plan carefully.
Thanks for the photos, <b>luv2cthings</b>, hope our weather is as clear as yours!

old worn wooden ladder - but yeh a short one.

BACK FROM PARIS, and climbing the towers was a highlight.
Thanks to those who posted information above!

The line on a Friday morning wasn't bad at all, but two ladies ahead of us left the line when they read the "Exact change only please" sign. They perhaps planned to pay with plastic.

The big bell is approached by ducking through a low doorway and then climbing a wooden stairway. (Wouldn't call it a ladder, as it's sturdily built-in w/handrail.)

I especially loved the posted Victor Hugo <i>Hunchback</i> quotes - read four of them with interest and perhaps there are more?

One thing no one mentioned above is the sign upon departure, saying your tour ticket is good for 2euro off a Pont-Neuf boat ride, for anyone who forgot to print their Internet discount coupon.