I love Paris.
In fact I could have written that famous song, 'I love Paris in the Springtime."!!
Because whenever you visit Paris the sights you see and experiences you have can differ on each trip. Depending on the time of year, or even the time of day, each experience can change as readily as the weather does. I have never once on any of my visits been disappointed with my trip.

To visit Notre Dame is to take a look at French History. It was on the site that Romans built a temple to Jupiter and the Emperor Tiberius. In 1163 Pope Alexander III laid the cathedral's foundation stone but the final touches were not completed until 1345, more than two hundred years later. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral was a place where the homeless slept and were fed, passion plays were performed and merchants sold everything from ostrich eggs to elephant tusks. Beautifully restored and accessible to the public, the main sanctuary at Notre Dame is a chance to walk through the middle ages
During the 12th century, the school adjoining the cathedral became the academic centre of Europe, eventually becoming the Sorbonne.
During the revolution the cathedral was renamed the "Temple of Reason" and, shortly after, it was auctioned off to a demolition contractor for scrap building material. The cathedral was never actually demolished but left in tatters.
During the 19th century, writer Victor Hugo and some artists drew attention to the dangerous state of disrepair into which the Cathedral had fallen.
Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc began restoring the cathedral in 1844 - this restoration lasted 23 years. Besides bringing new life to the rose windows and the statues, he also designed Notre-Dame's spire, a new feature of the building, and the sacristy. The houses that were in the vicinity of the cathedral were torn down to allow better views of the structure.
During the Commune of 1871, the Cathedral was nearly burned by the Communard, but Notre-Dame survived the Commune essentially unscathed.
The Te Deum Mass took place in the cathedral to celebrate the liberation of Paris in August 26, 1944. The Requiem Mass of General Charles de Gaulle took place in the cathedral on November 12, 1970.
In 1991, a major restoration program was undertaken. It was expected to last 10 years but continued well into the 21st century - the cleaning and restoration of the old sculptures was an exceptionally precise job. Now the work is finished and the scaffolding is down and the result is spectacular: the stone architecture and sculptures gleam in their original colour.
To see the wonderful building today it is amazing to think that revolution, invasion and neglect all took their toll on the cathedral throughout the centuries but it remarkably survived as one of the most enduring symbols of the original central city of Paris.

VISITING NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame is an enormous example of Gothic architecture, having been built in stages to its current size over many, many years.
What stuck out to me the first time I visited the cathedral, and something

Pictures of Notre Dame, Paris

Notre Dame, Paris

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One of the more famed aspects of Notre Dame is its stained glass
The highlight is the front Rose Window, an enormous circular stained glass masterpiece. If you stand in the direct centre of the building, you not only feel the full impact of the cathedral, but you also get a great view of the famous Rose Window, light and colour shimmers and radiates through the glass.

It's worth some thought as to whether the trip to the top is essential sightseeing. You need to climb lots of very windy stairs until you reach a small balcony. You are then rewarded with a famous view of the city, but if time or cost or aching joints are of any concern, this may well be a place to skip

VISITORS INFORMATION

Opening hours

Prices

Public transport

Address and telephone

01-42-34-56-10

www.notredamedeparis.fr

Summary: You simply can't visit Paris and not Notre Dame