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Originally Posted by onesnowyowl
The Notre Dame. Rather disappointing. I much preferred the Sainte Chapelle, which is just around the corner.
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Couldn't agree more. Although the Notre Dame rose window is very striking, Sainte Chapelle is absolutely gorgeous.
Actually, I was totally blown away by many european high-gothic cathedrals. The Cathedral at Chartres was amazing, though I had never seen pictures or anything. What struck me most was the vastness of it--it could hold two Notre Dames de Paris. It's this enormous, elegant Gothic cathedral with the most amazing sense of weight and age to it. It's so long that from the front door, you almost can't quite make out the far wall of the trancept. Way way WAAAAY above your head is the most amazing, elaborate tracery and stonework. Just an amazing experience.
Looking down from the top of the dome at St. Peters Basilica is incredible too. You follow these LONG, spiral staircase that's between the innner and outer walls of the dome. That means that as you get higher, the walls get slantier until you feel like you're extremely drunk climbing these steps. It's very disorienting. Then you step out into this viewing gallery that's WAY above the altar.
Gotta agree about Rushmore. It might be more impressive up close, but where you view it from seems a long way away.