Notre Dame cathedral is a French gothic architectural masterpiece conceived by Maurice de Sully, bishop of Paris, and built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. It is located on the Île de la Cité and it is dedicated to Virgin Mary. Art lovers from all over the world come to Paris to admire its sculptures, rose windows of stained glass, intricate spires, flying buttresses and somber pillars. The stone gargoyles decorating the roof are particularly popular with the tourists.

For a magnificent view of the city climb the spiral stairs to the top; the view is even better than atop the Eiffel Tower.

Victor Hugo was so impressed by the cathedral that he turned it into the home of Quasimodo, the main character in his famous 19th century novel.

Notre Dame de Paris is thought of as the "0 km" of France as all road distances are calculated by considering the cathedral as the starting point.