Inside History NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS
In a city boasting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame has nevertheless managed to hold its own. Before it was ravaged by the fire of 15 April 2019, which destroyed its spire and melted the roof, this fine example of Gothic architecture was welcoming 13 million visitors each year, making it Paris’ number one tourist attraction.
The construction of Notre-Dame on the Ile de la Cite began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and it was completed in 1345. Given this lengthy timeframe, it was a construction project that evolved over the years –
