What is it: Notre-Dame de Paris is a cathedral built between 1160 and 1260. It is located on the Île de la Cité, a natural island in the Seine where medieval Paris was founded. In 1831, the cathedral was immortalised in the Victor Hugo novel Notre-Dame de Paris, better known to English audiences as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. 12 million people visited Notre-Dame every year until it was ravaged by a terrible fire in 2019.
What's it like: It's one of the world's most recognisable cathedrals, famous for its bells, flying buttresses and rose windows.
Where: Paris, France
When: April 2019
How: I first went to Notre-Dame in 1997 and had waited 22 years to go back. I booked a trip for April 16th 2019. On April 15th, my travelling companion texted me to ask if I'd seen the news - I looked on the internet and Notre-Dame was in flames. We went to see it anyway (me, my godson, his brother, and their parents) and then made our way to the Eiffel Tower (148). It was a very sad sight indeed and the whole of Paris seemed to be in mourning.
Worth noting: Notre-Dame is home to a relic of the Crown of Thorns, which was given to Louis IX in 1238. It ended up at Notre-Dame after the French Revolution. It had been routinely displayed on the first Friday of every month until the fire. It was saved by the Paris Fire Brigade.
What's it like: It's one of the world's most recognisable cathedrals, famous for its bells, flying buttresses and rose windows.
Where: Paris, France
When: April 2019
How: I first went to Notre-Dame in 1997 and had waited 22 years to go back. I booked a trip for April 16th 2019. On April 15th, my travelling companion texted me to ask if I'd seen the news - I looked on the internet and Notre-Dame was in flames. We went to see it anyway (me, my godson, his brother, and their parents) and then made our way to the Eiffel Tower (148). It was a very sad sight indeed and the whole of Paris seemed to be in mourning.
Worth noting: Notre-Dame is home to a relic of the Crown of Thorns, which was given to Louis IX in 1238. It ended up at Notre-Dame after the French Revolution. It had been routinely displayed on the first Friday of every month until the fire. It was saved by the Paris Fire Brigade.
Place in the 2015 edition: 55
Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: I hope it's been removed because it's closed - otherwise it should surely have been included. It's iconic.
Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: I hope it's been removed because it's closed - otherwise it should surely have been included. It's iconic.
