CATHÉDRALE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

In its more than eight centuries of existence, Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most imposing and expressive symbols of the city.

Surrounded by the waters of the Seine, it is located on the Île de la Cité, in Place Parvis, where Marco Zero is also “studded”, from which the distances between Paris and other cities in France are calculated.

Chapels, rose windows, sculptures, paintings, portals... In short, every detail of the Gothic-style building makes the cathedral built in honor of the Virgin Mary a remarkable masterpiece.

The famous gargoyles, portrayed in the novel by Victor Hugo, are a separate attraction and yield beautiful photos. The climb to the tower can be tiring, but the view is worth the effort.

A Gothic masterpiece, built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple, Notre-Dame Cathedral reigns majestically on the Île de la Cité.

It is one of the most visited and photographed monuments in the world; its cornerstone was laid in 1163 by Pope Alexander III (1105 – 1181), starting the work planned by Maurice de Sully (1105-1190), bishop of the capital at the time, who wanted a grandiose Cathedral, and only completed 180 years later. .

Severely damaged during the French Revolution, the cathedral underwent a restoration in the 19th century, led by the architect Viollet-le-Duc.

Even in the midst of the Revolution (1789-1799), the 28 statues in the Gallery of the Kings, on the facade of the cathedral, representing the kings of Judah, biblical characters, were beheaded, as the revolutionaries believed that they portrayed the kings of France. The heads of kings that we see today are copies (the Musée du Cluny preserves the fragments of the original works, rediscovered in 1977).

During this period, the cathedral was looted by the people and became a real warehouse, much of the furniture and sculptures were destroyed and the bells were melted down to use the bronze.

In 2013, Notre-Dame Cathedral celebrated its 850th anniversary. to celebrate the anniversary, several modernizations were carried out: new fire prevention system, new lighting (inside and outside), eight new bells (with computerized tuning) and the magnificent organ has been renovated.