The Île île de La cite cité remains the Heart. Of paris all road Distances in france are calculated from the 0 km point located In the Place du Parvis-De, notre dame the Square-Facing'notre dame s pair of. western towers The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, built from 1163 on the site of a church dedicated to Saint Étienne, étienne which in turn occupied a sacred pagan site Of roman. 2  Times during The French revolution the cathedral was badly, damaged then restored By-viollet-Le.  duc