I will be going to Paris early June with my mum and as very keen photographers we%26#39;d like to go up the Towers at Notre Dame. We arrive on a Sunday afternoon and thought about going up just before dusk as they will be open late.
However, I am on the heavy side, though reasonably fit and my mum is 76yrs old though amazing for her age (has just done 5 weeks round New Zealand on her own!). My question is, do you think the towers will be quite quiet on a Sunday evening so we can take our time with the stairs? Are there any places to rest and let people past? We%26#39;d so like to do this but feel apprehensive about holding up a whole line of fitter people!
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The towers are always busy on good day. Last time I walked by (a sunday late morning) line was LONG too.
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I%26#39;ve read and heard that it%26#39;s well worth it to get yourself up to the top but wonder (as a slightly claustrophobic person) how wide the stair cases are. Is it close to shoulder wide or is there room for someone moving more quickly to squeeze past you so you%26#39;re not %26#39;holding up the pack%26#39;?
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There isn%26#39;t a great deal of room to squeeze past other people; there%26#39;s bound to be a lot of physical contact. That being said, don%26#39;t worry about having to stop to catch your breath; there are many that do. Just try to make room for those behind you so that they can pass you up.
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You do stop part way up at the gift shop for a break before proceeding all the way
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Thank you for your replies, we may just have to see what it is like on the day.
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We took our two children up the towers in 2006, they were 8 and 5 at the time, they were fine.
What we did was make sure that after we visited the gift shop we waited till we were the last people and then followed everyone else up so we could go at our own pace.
And we did the same on the way down waited for everyone else to go first and we pottered down slowly.
As it was a wet day the stairs are quite slippy so I was very aware that one slip could mean a trip to hospital for my kids.
I remember almost having a panic attack from a sudden fear of heights, I was so scared but the views are amazing, and you get plenty of time to take pictures and just enjoy it.
Not to be missed!!
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About how many storey is it to the top? Are they open wired stair casing?? It sounds so amazing but I am afraid of open stair case so need to make some decision.
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The staircase up the Towers is completely enclosed( which is why some people may not enjoy it if they are claustraphobic).
They only allow about 20 people up at a time, so just hold back in your group so you are at the end of the group. There are small (tiny) little areas to step aside in to let people pass.
Blue( your name is so long) .. i urge you to consider taking your mom up the Arc De Triomphe! My favorite views in Paris, AND an elevator that will take you most of the way with only one short staircase to top. BEst of all, lines have never been terrible when I have been there.
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For anyone who has been to Prague, is it worse than St. Vitus. That was over 700 steps, no windows, and completely crowded. You had to squeeze past each other on a spiral staircase. I think I made it up 400 or more steps and turned back due to my claustrophobia.
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I agree with Joan about the Arc de Triomphe - even the stairs aren%26#39;t as bad, but as she said you can take the elvator (especially with an older woman along!), and then it%26#39;s a really short flight (maybe 20 steps) up to the roof level. It%26#39;s a fabulous view of Paris from there, just about my favorite at all times of the day and in all seasons/weather. And, there often are interesting and quirky displays in the small area at the top where you come out of the elevator before climing to roof level.
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