What you need to know about Notre Dame Cathedral

What you need to know about Notre Dame Cathedral

The Notre Dame cathedral in Paris celebrated its 850th anniversary in 2013 with a refurbished organ and new bells.

The structure, literally meaning Our Lady, stands on the Ile de la Cite in the River Seine and has been a key destination for tourists and worshippers for centuries.

France Notre Dame Fire
Flames and smoke rise as the spire of Notre Dame cathedral collapses (Dominique Bichon/AP)

– Construction started in 1163 under the instruction of the Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, after he ordered the original cathedral to be demolished.

– The first stone was laid by Pope Alexander III in the presence of King Louis VII, with the majority of work taking place under Maurice de Sully and his successor Odon de Sully.

– The central spire was only added as part of a 25-year restoration project in the 19th century.

France Notre Dame Fire
The central spire was added as part of a 25-year restoration project in the 19th century (Dominique Bichon/AP)

– During the revolution, the cathedral was subject to desecration with statues of biblical kings beheaded.

Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral is seen across the River Seine before the fire (Mike Egerton/PA)

– The square facing the main entrance of Notre Dame is the so-called Kilometre Zero – the point from which distances to Paris are measured.

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