Entering the Notre Dame section in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and completing its challenges are crucial for achieving the best outcome and acquiring significant upgrades. The path to Notre Dame involves a series of steps that begin with defeating a hidden boss and culminate in a puzzle involving a large organ.
Unlocking the Notre Dame Entrance
Players will first encounter a large painting of Notre Dame Cathedral in a hallway of the Main Hall as they progress toward the Clock Tower. This painting serves as the gateway to the hidden area, but it cannot be accessed immediately. To unlock it, several key items and abilities must be acquired.
The first objective is to defeat Talos, an elusive boss requiring puzzle-solving to reach his arena. Information on how to locate Talos can be found by following the guide for ascending the Clock Tower, which features Talos as its primary boss. Upon defeating Talos, players gain his technique, which allows them to break specific barriers marked with a yellow glow. This ability is necessary for the next step: obtaining the Artist Arcana.
In the Main Hall, players will find Alucard Paintings that hint at secret passages. One of these paintings reveals the entrance to Brauner's Atelier. Interacting with this painting will trigger Brauner to appear, though there is no boss fight associated with this encounter. Obtaining the Artist Arcana is the next immediate goal.
Finally, the Painter's Brush is required, and it is held by Carmilla, another boss found in the library. To reach her, players must find clues related to astral glyph mechanisms. Once all three combinations are discovered, they can be activated in the central chamber near a save point. This leads to the rafters at the top of a short tower where Carmilla resides. Her boss fight features a unique gimmick that must be overcome to secure the Painter's Brush. After defeating Carmilla, collect the paintbrush.
With Talos's technique, the Artist Arcana, and the Painter's Brush in hand, players can return to the Notre Dame painting in the Main Hall. Equipping the Artist Arcana and interacting with the painting will trigger a cutscene, transporting the player to the entrance of Notre Dame.
Solving the Hidden Organ Puzzle
Inside Notre Dame, players will find a large organ. This organ is utilized by the Shadow Arcana boss, Death, to seal himself away. To proceed, players must find three melodies hidden within the Cathedral to unlock the door and confront Death. However, a fourth, hidden melody exists, which can unlock further rewards.
The Stained Glass Gallery, accessible from the Western Triforium save point, is key to deciphering this hidden melody. Head right from the save point, jump down a hole, pass the Ferryman room, and enter the Sealed Scriptorium. Proceed right and break through the ceiling of the Stained Glass Gallery. At the top of the windows, symbols correspond to the keys on the Giant Organ, while the candles below indicate the sequence for the hidden melody. This tune consists of ten key presses and requires the double jump and dash abilities.
To play the hidden melody on the Giant Organ, start at the Crescent Moon key. The sequence of keys to press is as follows: Moon Libra (one key right), Scorpio (one key right), Aquarius (three keys right), Capricorn (one key left), Virgo (six keys left), Sun (one key right), Leo (two keys left), Cancer (one key left), and Aries (three keys left).
Successfully playing this melody rewards players with a point in Death's Arcana, which can be used immediately. Afterward, a new path will open beneath a statue to the left. Following this path leads to a chest containing the War and Famine legendary dual-swords weapon.