The Guardian

Our Lady of Paris: a history of Notre Dame Cathedral

The masterpiece of Gothic architecture has been a symbol of French capital for 850 years
Notre-Dame de Paris has seen coronations, consecrations and beatifications during its long and rich history. Photograph: Jeremy Lempin/EPA

Notre-Dame de Paris – Our Lady of Paris – has been one of the most enduring and symbolic monuments of the French capital and among the most celebrated cathedrals in Europe.

To many Parisians, the 850-year-old landmark is quite simply the heart of their city, its two Gothic square towers rising above surrounding buildings along the river Seine.

It is the cathedral of French cathedrals,

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