The Notre Dame from the south side of the Ile de la Cite. Above the Pont de l'Archevêché
<p>This masterpiece of Gothic architecture is one of Paris' most famous landmarks and one of France's most visited religious monuments.  In 1163, the Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, launched the construction of the cathedral, which took nearly 200 years to complete. 
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&gt;1163 Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame de Paris — construction begins. &gt;1250–1345 Remaining elements completed. Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", dedicated to the Virgin Mary) -- often referred to simply as "Notre Dame", in English -- is a Gothic cathedral located on the Île de la Cité, in the Seine river in Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.
Elliott Brown
CC BY 2.0
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