Notre-Dame Cathedral, also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a famous old church in southern Vietnam. It is a magnificent building with architectural style neo-Roman and a spiritual atmosphere, located in Paris Square in Ho Chi Minh City center, attracts not only Catholics but also virtually tourists in the country and abroad.
Notre Dame Saigon is conveniently located in central Ho Chi Minh City. When Saigon to the magnificent, you ask anyone on the center or the symbol of the city, the answer will certainly be Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (or the official name is the Basilica of Germany Immaculate Conception). Unlike a modern angle, place the Assembly’s prosperous commercial area, the church again nestled in a very peaceful place in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The address of the church is the No. 1 St. Paris Commune Square, at the intersection of Pham Ngoc Thach, Le Duan and the Paris Commune St.
Built between 1863 and 1880, after the conquest of the French in the city. Bishop Lefebvre was the first to go and build a church on March 28 1863. In the beginning, the church called the Church of Saigon. But after Bishop Pham Van Thien held a ceremony to install the statue of Notre Dame, the peace has been renamed Notre-Dame. The church is made of granite from Rome in 1959. In 1962, Vatican anointed the cathedral as a chief of Saigon, conferring to it the properties of a basilica. Consequently, this cathedral was called the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral of Saigon.
Characteristics of architecture
The outer wall of the church was built with bricks from Marseilles, the bricks red colors remain bright despite not being coated. The whole of the church stained glass panels includes 56 squares produced by the province’s Lorin Chartres (France). The church across the 56 squares of colored glass panels produced by Lorin of Chartres Province (France).
The interior is built with a main space, two under and two tunnels. The church has 133 in length, 35m in width with pavement, 21 meters high. Church can accommodate about 1,200 people. In the church, two rows of six pillars perpendicular to symbolize the twelve apostles. Behind the main pillars, with corridors with wall cabinets containing the furnace bridges (more than twenty), and small statues of saints in stone cutting. The oven needs to be made mostly of marble block with six angels reliefs desk support; pedestal is divided into three parts which are really sculptures. On the walls, 56 squares of stained glass represent the characters or events in the Bible, 31 images of roses round, 25 stained glass windows of the small beautiful image. All routing and tracking features further the rules of Romaine and Gothic architecture to enhance the luxury throne. However, only two of the 56 stained-glass windows remained intact as before.
Previously, the two bell towers of 36.6 meters and is without a roof, but a narrow staircase 40 cm. There on the whole six large bells of six tons (sol, la, si, do, re, mi) and weighs 28.85 tons, hung in the bell tower two. This bell is produced in France and imported in Saigon in 1879. The four bells (sol, si, re, mi) are hung on the right bell tower; two others (la, do) in a left. Bell surface ‘appear very delicate ornaments. The three largest bells is si 3,150 kg, 2,194 kg of re especially sol, one of the largest bells in the world, of 8.785 kg, which is 2.25 meters mouth diameter, 3.5 meters high (including ears). This bell rang only once a year at Christmas time.
The clock under arch, 15 meters above the ground at, in the center of the bell tower two, was produced in Switzerland in 1887, the brand RA, 2.5 meters high, 3 meters long, more than a meter wide and weighs more than a ton, are mounted on a brick pedestal. Although rudimentary and old, it still works properly.
In front of the church is a park with four paths form a cross. In the middle of the park there is a statue of the Virgin of Peace (or Queen of Peace). The statue was sculpted by G. Ciocchetti in 1959. The sculptor’s name is already registered on the left side of the dress. 4.6 meter high statue, weighing 5.8 meter white marble of Italy was carved to contemplation of distant and therefore did not hit the ball. The statue of the mother is upright with the handle on the ball of the ground on which a cross is drawn up; her eyes fix meditation in the sky even when prayers for Vietnam and the world. Presses his foot on the head of a snake (which is superior function has been divided). On a pedestal, the statue on the front, they fix a panel with the Latin: Regina Pacis – ORA PRONOBIS – XVII. II. MCMLIX (Queen of Peace – Pray for us – 02/17/1959). Between the pedestal and feet of the mother, they drilled a hole to install a silver box, which contains a prayer for peace in Vietnam and the world. The prayers are written on gold plates, money, tin, aluminum, paper, copper and leather are sent from certain regions of Vietnam.
Opening hours
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral officially opens for visitors from 08:00 to 11:00 am and from 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. If the front entrance is not open, try the door around to the left (opposite Reunification). Moreover Admission is free and visitors can attend the ceremony with the locals an easy weekend.
Weekly Service Schedule
Full service in Vietnamese and English are held every Sunday morning, and the participation of the people of Vietnam and foreigners are the same. Other services are held throughout the week. Therefore, if you want to attend Mass tourists should go on Sunday at 09:30 am.
Notre Dame is regarded as a great destination for those who seek calm, peaceful as well as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time this is also the right place for those who want to reduce their mind from the stress of everyday life. The city tour is diverse in religious themes will give you the perfect opportunity to explore the religious, architectural and cultural significance lies behind the well-known religious place in Ho Chi Minh City as : Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral (Catholic), Thien Hau pagoda, Emperor pagoda (Buddhist), Mariamman Hindu temple (Hindu) …
