The Cathedral of Notre Dame is a Paris Must-See!

Notre Dame is built upon the small island of Ile de la Cite, which is located in the Seine River. After crossing the oldest bridge in Paris to the island, ironically named Pont Neuf, meaning new bridge, stroll around the island for a bit. You're standing upon ground that was home to the very first Parisians - a Celtric tribe named the Parisii who occupied the Ile de la Cite around 52 BC.

This oldest area of Paris has long been used religiously. When Romans still worshiped Jupiter as king of gods, a temple existed on this site in his name. As Paris became a Christian society, the first grand cathedral, named Saint-Etienne Basilica, was built to replace the ancient Roman temple by Childebert I, the King of the Franks, in 528. After this church was deemed the "parish church of the Kings of Europe", Bishop Maurice de Sully determined that it was necessary to erect a grand new structure to replace the aging Saint-Etienne. Pope Alexander III officially commissioned the construction of this gothic cathedral in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, but construction was to span three generations of craftsmen before the Notre Dame was officially completed in 1345.

Easily one of the best known tourist attractions in Paris, Notre Dame is also still in use as a Roman Catholic cathedral. Among the earliest of significant events to take place in this location was the call for the Third Crusade to recapture the Holy Land. Through its centuries of existence, Notre Dame has also been used as a community hall, for banquets, and to stage amateur theatrical productions. During the French Revolution, after much of the grand treasures were looted or destroyed, Notre Dame was even used as a warehouse for food storage! The setting for weddings, funerals and other high ceremonies, Notre Dame hosted the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots to Dauphin Francois, the crowning of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor, the beatification of Joan of Arc and the requiem mass of Charles de Galle.

As you arrive at the Western Façade, be sure to notice the intricate designs carved around the three entrance arches. Looking at the building, you'll also notice the magnificent flying buttresses, added to the architecture to the thin walls of the cathedral from pushing outwards; Notre Dame was one of the first buildings in the world to use this design. Before entering the cathedral, look up to see the South Tower to your right. This location is home to Emmanuel, the oldest bell in Notre Dame, recast in 1631. Just below the South Tower is the Galerie des Chimieres, which houses the gargoyles famed at this site. The gargoyles once had a practical purpose to drain water from buildings, but have remained a fearsome part of architecture long after the introduction of the drainpipe, as the superstitious believe they ward off evil spirits. Take note of the King's Gallery, a line of statues representing the 24 Kings of Judah and Israel, that was destroyed by revolutionaries who believed the statues represented kings of France; a schoolteacher rescued the decapitated heads, which are on display at the Musee de Cluny, and new statues were designed for this location.

Now you must carefully choose which doorway will take you into the cathedral - to the right is the Portal of the Virgin, in the middle the Portal of the Last Judgment, and to the right the Portal to Saint Anne. As you enter, you'll notices that the stairs to the South Tower are to your immediate left - 387 steps will take you to the top. As you come to the centre of the cathedral, you'll view the rose windows in the western, northern and southern walls. The stained glass in the West Rose Window dates back to the 13th century and was set during original construction of Notre Dame. The North and South Rose Windows depict the Virgin Mary and the Triumph of Christ, and are known for being among the oldest stained glass windows in all of Europe to contain their original glasswork.

In his 1831 publication The Hunchback of Notre Dame, author Victor Hugo lamented the toll that man and time had taken upon the cathedral, concluding "Tempus edax, homo edacior" - time is blind but man is stupid. Inspired by his writings, architect Eugene Emmanuel Violet-le-Duc drew a restoration plan to restore the church to its former glory. His restoration lasted 23 years; in present day, a restoration project began in 1991 and continues today.

Enjoy your exploration of Notre-Dame de Paris, and be careful under the watchful eyes of the gargoyles.