Notre-Dame – Cathedral of Our Lady
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The Notre-Dame took 182 years to build. The cathedral was commissioned by King Louis VII, and the first stone is believed to have been laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163
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1180s: High altar consecrated 1250: South tower completed
1431: King Henry VI of England is crowned King of France
1537: King James V of Scotland marries Madeleine of France
1730: Great Organ installed
1790s: Cathedral damaged and neglected during French Revolution
1804: Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned emperor
1831: Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame of Paris (better known as The Hunchbackof Notre Dame) spurs restoration by architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc
1909: Joan of Arc is beatified by Pope Pius X

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Spire and medieval wooden roof collapsed

North Tower

South Tower

Choir

South rose window 13m-wide, made up of 84 panels

Three rose windows, on west facade and north and south transepts, date from 13th century

Portal of the Virgin

Portal of Judgement

Portal of Sainte-Anne

Passion of Christ
Relics described as piece of cross, nail and Holy Crown of Thorns (above). Crown rescued from fire
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Sources: Reuters, New York Times Pictures: Getty Images, Google Earth © GRAPHIC NEWS