Cathedrale Notre-Dame

Today Facts about France presents:Cathedrale Notre-Dame


Notre-Dame is on the Ile de la Cite, the historical heart of Paris.
It is famous for its sculptures, grotesque gargoyles, and stained glass.
Built on a Roman temple the first stone for the church was laid down in 1163 .With its 69 meter high towers it is still impressive today.Throughout the centuries, the cathedral has not changed much. Most serious was the devastation of 1793, when during the French Revolution the cathedral was turned into a "Temple of Reason". But already in 1804, Napoleon crowned himself and Josephine in the presence of the pope Pius VII in the Notre-Dame cathedral.


Cathedrale Notre-Dame

If you visit the cathedral, be sure to hike up the seemingly-endless spiral stairs to the top to get a close-up look of the gargoyles and a grand view of the city and the Seine River.Outside the cathedral is the markation point from which the distance to all cities in France is measured.


Cathedrale Notre-Dame


Cathedrale Notre-Dame