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Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame though best known from its front façade is equally inspiring architecturally when viewed from the rear and the Seine side of the cathedral. From here, you can see the flying buttresses and enjoy the gardens, which somehow bring this great edifice down to scale. Notre-Dame is one of Paris’ most visited sights. Built on the Ile de la Cité, the oldest part of Paris, construction of this gothic cathedral began in 1163 and took about 180 years to complete. In 1239, Louis IX purchased what was believed to be the crown of thorns that Christ wore on the cross and later placed the relic in Notre-Dame.
From the prayers of departing crusaders on the way to their holy wars, to the pillaging of its statues during the French revolution, this great cathedral has witnessed much of the city’s history. At one time, geographers even decided that Notre-Dame should be the center of France, and all distances should be measured from it. No wonder, it was here that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. In 1944, Charles de Gaulle offered prayers of thanksgiving for the liberation of Paris, and in 1970 his state funeral was held in the cathedral.
With its great stain glass windows that once told Bible stories to the common people, Notre-Dame has long served its city. Today, the cathedral is almost always filled with visitors, whether they are seated in the nave or climbing the 387 steps to the top of the south tower.