Strasbourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, arouses fascination and contemplation. Between the mysterious green ray, its ancestral stained glass windows and the legend of the devil, it is much more than a monument: a living place full of history, legends and spirituality.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourgan emblematic monument of Alsace, attracts with its Gothic architecture and mysterious legends. Over the centuries, it has become a fascinating place, combining history, art and spirituality.
The phenomenon of the green ray and the symbolic power of the building
Strasbourg Cathedral, long the tallest in the world at 142 meters, hides a very special secret: the “green ray”. This luminous phenomenon occurs at the spring and autumn equinoxes when sunlight passes through a stained glass window to illuminate the cross of Christ. Discovered in 1972 by Maurice Rosart, this ray was not intentional, but it added a mystical touch to the building. Recently, this phenomenon disappeared after a restoration of the stained glass window, arousing nostalgia among visitors who appreciated this “sign of the Lord”. Failing to see this ray again, visitors can contemplate another marvel: the astronomical clock, a feat by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué. In addition to telling the time, this Renaissance work indicates lunar phases, eclipses and religious festivals.
Stories, legends and mysteries around Notre-Dame
Inside, visitors discover a cathedral magnified by its medieval stained glass windows, miraculously preserved, despite the trials of the centuries and the bombings of the Second World War. Another mystery surrounds the cathedral: the legend of the wind. It is said that the devil, having been unable to enter the building, remained frustrated, circling around the cathedral and generating unpredictable air currents. Thus, Notre-Dame de Strasbourg remains a living symbol, imbued with history and mystery, a place where art and the sacred come together to fascinate each generation.
