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"Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris), also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra (official chair), of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe. It was restored and saved from destruction by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French, and is frequently used in the names of Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries. Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction spanned the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture. Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern. The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. During the 19th century, an extensive restoration project was completed, returning the cathedral to its previous state. "

"The Gothic loftiness of Notre-Dame dominates the Seine and the Ile-de-la-Cité as well as the history of Paris. On the spot where this majestic cathedral now stands, the Romans had built a temple to Jupiter, which was followed by a Christian basilica and then a Romanesque church (the Cathedral of St. Etienne, founded by Childebert in 528)."

"Paris is known as The City of Lights and absolutely deserves this name. But it is much more than just the City of Lights. Paris, the capital of France, is one of the best travel destinations. It has everything a traveller could possibly wish for. A stay in Paris should at least include a visit to the Louvre, one of the most impressive and well known museums in the world; a climb of the Eiffel tower; and a climb to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral. You should also climb the steps to the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, stroll around the Place du Tertre in front of it, visit the saucy Pigalle district, walk around the Latin quarter - St. Germain, Boulevard St. Michel - and feel the atmosphere of the street performers outside the Centre Pompidou. PARIS TRAVEL INFO Best of Paris Paris Real Estate Paris Eiffel Tower Paris Museums Paris apartments accommodation Paris Pass and Tours Paris Hotel Paris Apartments International Money Transfer is available in the UK from HIFX Foreign Exchange Specialists. In the neighborhood of Paris you can visit Fontainebleau, Versailles with its magnificent palace of Louis XIV, Vaux-le-Vicomte and the inspiration for Versailles Disneyland Paris. All of these make perfect daytrips. Paris is full of surprises; just have a good breakfast with coffee and croissants, take a walk, and discover some of them for yourself. "

"Brief History The town of Versailles sits about 20 kilometers outside of Paris. The first mention of the town and estate was in 1038, when the name appeared in a charter of the Abbey of Saint-Père de Chartres. By the end of the 11th century, Versailles was a country village Statue of Louis XIV at Versailles Statue of Louis XIV enveloping a castle and the church of Saint-Julien, remaining prosperous until well into the 13th century. After the Hundred Years War, however, only a handful of people lived there. Royal Presence In the 16th century, the Gondi family became the rulers of Versailles and the town began to gain acclaim when future King Louis XIII visited and became enamored with the site. He purchased land in the area and proceeded to build a small brick and stone lodge there in 1622. Ten years later, he became the lord of Versailles and began enlarging his lodge. Soon, he purchased more land as well as Gondi's estate. Louis XIII dies in 1643. The Sun King In 1662, the new king - Louis XIV - took an earnest interest in Versailles. Louis XIV, also known as The Sun King, distrusted the Parisians and wanted to move his Royal Residence away from the Louvre Palace, which was at the heart of constant political turbulence. The Sun King was largely responsible for the expansion that resulted in the building that still stands today. He hired architect Louis Le Vau along with artist Versailles Royal Chapel Royal Chapel Charles Le Brun to carry out the work on this Baroque masterpiece, which became the quintessential model for all palaces in Europe. Famed gardener André le Nôtre was responsible for the unequalled Versailles Garden. After Le Vau's death, Jules Hardouin- Mansart was commissioned to triple the size of the palace. Under his watchful eye, the northern and southern wings, the Orangerie, the Grand Trianon (a chateau) and the Royal Chapel were constructed. Later additions included the Opera and the Petit Trianon (a small chateau), which was built bet

"A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345). Road distances in France are calculated on the basis of the "0 km" marked on the square in front of the cathedral."

"Our recommendations on the best places to visit in France provide a incomparable travel experiences in one of the world's most fascinating countries. "

"Tours to Paris would take you to the fascinating world of glamour, fashion, and art. Paris is one of the world's most visited tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors every year from all around the globe."

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