Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris, located on the Île de la Cité. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful monuments of French Gothic architecture. Its sculptures and stained glass windows contrast with the Romanesque style. Its western façade, with two large rose windows 13 metres in diameter, dominates the square in front of the church.

According to historians, the present site of Notre-Dame was occupied by a Gallo-Roman pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter, then an early Christian basilica and Romanesque cathedrals. In 1160, Bishop Maurice Sully decided to build a new type of sanctuary, in the tradition of Gothic art, and the first stone was laid in 1163. Construction continued until 1345. The cathedral has seen many important events, such as the rehabilitation trial of Joan of Arc and the coronation of Napoleon in 1804. After the Revolution, a major restoration was undertaken from 1844 to 1864, led by the architect Viollet-Le-Duc, who took the initiative to somewhat rework it.

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is the most visited monument in Paris. You can climb the two towers, from which you have a magnificent view of the entire French capital. You will come across statues and evil and fantastic beasts. Built to recreate the eerie atmosphere of the Middle Ages, the chimeras are completely decorative and the gargoyles, placed at the end of the gutters, only serve to drain the water. On rainy days, we recommend that you admire the spectacle of these stone monsters transformed into fountains.