Part 8 of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse runs from the Notre-Dame Chapel to Dracula and the first ending, with the map objective still reading “Find Dracula and defeat him”. The path crosses the Court of Justice for Leon’s trial, climbs the Clock Tower past Isaac, and finishes in the Throne Room.
Quick answer: In the Notre-Dame Chapel, read the sword; ride the Ferryman to Paris Streets and use the Scales of Justice. Next, ascend the Clock Tower and get past Isaac. Defeat Dracula in both Throne Room forms to see the first ending.
The route here runs from the Notre-Dame Chapel through the first ending; it does not catalogue the rooms, items, or secrets encountered en route.
Read the sword in the Notre-Dame Chapel
From the East Gallery, step into the chapel lined with tall stained-glass windows. A sword stands in a pedestal on the altar, carrying the prompt “INTERACT [R1]”. Interacting opens a card titled “FEAT OF STRENGTH” that reads: “Only a titan of strength, a colossus of virtue, a giant of heart shall draw this sword and, anointed by the sword of dragons, be the savior of France.” The card adds “NEW CLUE ABOUT THE BRITTLE KING”.
You cannot pull the sword free yet in the story. For the complete steps to draw the sword and beat Arthur, see the separate guide.
Grab the Infernal Medallion in the Reliquary
In Notre-Dame’s Reliquary, work past the moving lasers and spike pillars to reach a chest. It holds the relic Infernal Medallion, which reads: “Rose’s mana cannot rise above 80% of her maximum, but the current spell cost is reduced by 10 mana points.”
Take the Ferryman and balance the Scales of Justice
If the pan does not resolve cleanly, the detailed steps for balancing the Scales of Justice lay out the full plaque text and sequence.
Climb the Clock Tower to the Clock Tower Bridge
Leave through the Court of Justice and the Elevator Tower back to the Main Hall, then cross the exterior bridge under the banner “BRIDGE TO THE CLOCK TOWER”. Inside, you pass through West Tower Base, ride a lift up to Mechanic’s Ascent, then move through Daedalus’ Crossing and The Way of the Fist to reach the Clock Tower Bridge.
A green seal swirls across the huge clock face at the Clock Tower Bridge. Use INTERACT [R1] to trigger Leon’s conversation with you, then enter the tower.
Work the clock switches to the Heart of the Clock
Throughout the tower, use INTERACT [R1] on the round red clock switches. They briefly slow the machinery, giving you time to get across the moving sections. Activate them as you proceed through the rooms in this order:
- Clock Keeper’s Atrium
- Bridge of Haste
- Eastern Runway
- The Gauntlet
- Steps of Time
At the bottom of the Steps of Time staircase, activate the red clock to hold back the collapse long enough to sprint upstairs. The stairway takes you to the Heart of the Clock.
Beat Isaac at the Heart of the Clock
At the top of the stairs, you emerge onto a walkway before a massive clock face. After a brief scene in which Rose asks how he is alive, a single red bar marked “ISAAC” appears. For the two-part battle, follow the guide to beating Isaac in both fights.
Once he falls, the trophy “Finish Hector’s work” appears and you take the Arcana card The Zealot, with the spell Chronomantic Dive. Pick up the spear he leaves, Chauve-Souris, with INTERACT [R1]. The map then shows “HEART OF THE CLOCK” with the Approach to the Master’s Quarters to the right.
Cross to the Master’s Quarters and Sanctuary of Solitude
Under the banner “MASTER’S QUARTERS APPROACH”, run up a ruined bridge beneath a red sky, past a giant hanging chain. This leads into the Master’s Quarters and then the Sanctuary of Solitude, which holds a Mirror of Life. A floor wheel raises a gate in front of a chest containing the relic Gloomstone: “Gives a hint when Rose is close to a secret.”
Step onto the bridge outside and speak with Leon, Medusa and Joan. Follow the iron chains uphill to the Throne Room Antechamber, identified by the “THRONE ROOM ANTECHAMBER” banner. From there, head right down the red-curtained passage and enter the Throne Room.
Beat Dracula and trigger the first ending
The battle with Dracula has two stages in this room, and each has a bar labelled “Dracula”. First face him in his humanoid form on foot; after a scene sends Rose into a void, fight his winged demon form. See the guide to beating Dracula’s two forms for both encounters.
Killing the winged form gives the trophy “Die monster! You don’t belong in this world!” and rolls the first ending, along with the trophy “The hunt goes on”.
After the first ending
A text card reads: “Dracula is vanquished… but the curse he unleashed upon the world could not be stopped in time. Evil fades away, yet it lingers close at hand, lurking in the shadows.” The title screen follows, and you resume from the Mirror of Life in the Master’s Quarters / Sanctuary of Solitude with your gear intact. The objective still reads “Find Dracula and defeat him”.
To reach the true ending, finish the four virtue trials in Notre-Dame and the shadow fight at the cathedral altar, then fight Dracula a second time.
Walkthrough series: Previous: Part 7: Notre-Dame and Death | Next: How to get the true ending
