The magnificent gothic edifice of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is at the very heart of the city. Many visitors do not realize that this most famous of French churches is at the center of the entire road system of the country. The sundial directly in front of the cathedral marks "kilometer zero" not just for the city, but for all of France. Which means that all distances from Paris are measured from this very point!

This simple fact conveys much information about French culture as no other European people can focus their national identity in one specific area. Symbolic of this cultural pride is the vibrant beating heart of Paris, the Ile de la cite, which is filled with activity both night and day.

For many visitors this is the only church named Notre Dame that comes to mind. But in fact every cathedral (a bishop's church) in France is dedicated to Our Lady, the Virgin Mary whose veneration in France has a long history.

The Church's facade has recently undergone a lengthy cleaning and shines brightly in the sun again after years of pollution and neglect. The numerous statues of Kings and Prophets look down upon the faithful as the world's most famous gargoyles line the perimeter ready to perform their duty as ornate rain gutters. During the French Revolution the cathedral was desecrated, statues were beheaded, many stained glass windows were removed and at one point it was even being used as a barn for cattle!

Thankfully those days are gone and the interior glistens with a haunting beauty from the light of the giant rose windows. The space is so massive that even with a steady stream of tourists it never feels crowded. This changes however if you visit during a High Mass such as on Easter Sunday, then the entire cathedral is full to bursting. I highly suggest this experience to get a feel of an earlier time when Roman Catholicism was the universal church of Europe and Kings would attend mass under the immense ribbed vaults of stone.

For a real lesson in Gothic architecture view the church from the rear to see the magnificent spans of the flying buttresses that keeps the cathedral from collapsing under its own weight. There is also a nice park in this area to have lunch or just take a break. Another option would be to wait in line to climb up the belfry for an intimate look at those famous gargoyles. Otherwise check out the local shops - especially those on Ile St Louis, the neighboring island -- or walk along the river.

Further resources:

Paris Sightseeing
www.cathedraledeparis.com
www.greatbuildings.com
www.academic.udayton.edu

Nearby hotels:

Paris Hotel de Notre Dame
Paris Hotel Flor Rivoli
Paris Hotel Moulin Vert
Paris Hotel Sovereign St Ouen

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Justin Demetri is a talented contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com. Should you like him to write professionally for you, please contact him at  .