Notre Dame de Paris

With its Gothic grandiosity, the Notre Dame in Paris dominates not only the rivers Seine and Ile-de-la-Cite but also the entire history of France. On the exact spot where now lies the magnificent holy edifice, the Romans have built a temple to Jupiter which was followed by a small convent, then a roman church.

The idea of building up Notre Dame de Paris, with almost 900 years ago, belonged to Maurice de Sully who was a Paris bishop. The works begun in 1163 and were finished 180 years later, in 1345, but without the finishing touches. Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral is an ode to Virgin Mary and was build in a time when most people didn't know how to read or write, so it was conceived in a way that illustrates the scenes in the Bible in a very plastic way.

The west wing of the cathedral is completely spectacular. The south tower where the famous Emmanuel bell is located has been rebuilt in 1631 and it is connected to the Big Gallery in which are carved apocalyptic sculptures inspired by old christian legends. The inferior level called The King's Gallery contains 28 statues of Kings from Israel and Iuda. The Notre Dame Paris architecture is amazing in every detail. The interior has been transformed in the middle of the 13th century and it's described by a maximum of light an space. Breathtaking sculptures can be find in every corner of the cathedral.

Notre Dame in Paris (France) is the essence of french medieval art. It is also the reason why it has inspired a lot of literary and artistic creations like 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by Victor Hugo or the 'Notre Dame de Paris Musical' of Luc Plamadon. Currently, this symbol of religious and artistic history of France is the property of the state but under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church.