Notre-Dame

Notre Dame de Paris is a Gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité, the natural island in the Seine within the city of Paris, and is considered the heart of the country, both geographically and spiritually.
After Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, an army of craftsmen toiled for 170 years to realize Bishop Maurice de Sully’s magnificent design. Almost destroyed during the Revolution, the Gothic masterpiece was restored in 1841-64 by architect Viollet-le-Duc, one of France’s most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means “Old Lady” in French. Some 130 m (430 ft) in length with a high vaulted nave and double side aisles, it also contains France’s largest organ.