Over 850 years of history and the "telling" statistics about Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The history of cultural formation and symbols

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is a quintessential Gothic Catholic church situated on the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France. It is also the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris.

The building is considered an irreplaceable cultural symbol of the "City of Lights" in particular, and France in general, and was featured in the classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by the great writer Victor Hugo.

Begun in 1160, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was built over more than a century and is considered the most beautiful Gothic cathedral in France, combining elements of naturalism and Renaissance architecture.

After years of renovations and alterations over hundreds of years, the structure was finally completed in 1350.

The building can accommodate up to 6,500 people, measuring 128m in length, 48m in width, and 96m in height. While not the largest cathedral in France, it is the most influential and captivating.

The church's beauty at night.

The structure has two towers, one facing north and the other facing south. The two bell towers rise high, symbolizing eternal existence.

Another notable feature of the church is its three famous stained-glass rose windows dating back to the 13th century. When light shines through the windows, the interior of the church transforms into various magical colors.

The rose window set inside the church dates back to the 13th century.

Most visitors who come here will spend time standing in front of the two Gothic-style towers located on the west side of the building.

Heavy losses

The magnificent beauty inside the church.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris suffered significant damage during the French Revolution in 1789. However, throughout World War I and World War II, this iconic French landmark stood tall and virtually undamaged.

The building was engulfed in flames at 7 p.m. local time on April 15, 2019.

At 7 PM (local time) on April 15, 2019, the magnificent structure was unexpectedly engulfed in flames. The fire caused extensive damage to the church's structure, resulting in the collapse of almost the entire roof, the destruction of several works of art and artifacts, and significant damage to the rose windows. Information regarding the fire is still being updated.

The numbers speak for themselves.

The structure was built over more than 100 years, spanning from the 12th to the 13th centuries, and has undergone numerous restorations and renovations.

This structure attracts even more visitors than the Eiffel Tower.

Every year, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris welcomes nearly 13 million tourists. This number is even greater than the number of visitors to the Eiffel Tower.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris boasts a system of 10 bells. The largest, named Emmanuel, weighs over 23 tons and was installed in the south tower in 1685. In 2013, when the cathedral celebrated its 850th anniversary, smaller bells were cast and placed in the north tower. Each bell is named after a saint.