Notre Dame [metro: Cite]

A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345). Road distances in France are calculated on the basis of the "0 km" marked on the square in front of the cathedral.

During its history, Notre Dame has been the site of numerous official and other ceremonial occasions. These include:

* 1239; The Crown of Thorns placed in the Cathedral by St. Louis during the construction of Sainte-Chapelle.
* 1302; Philip the Fair opens the first States General here.
* 1430; Henri VI of England is crowned here.
* Mary Stuart becomes Queen of France after her marriage to François II, and is crowned here.
* 1572; Marguerite of Valoi is married to the Huguenot Henri of Navarre here.
* 2 December 1804; After the anointing by Pius VII, Napoleon seizes the crown from the pontiff and crowns first himself, then Josephine.
* 26 August 1944; The Te Deum Mass celebrates the liberation of Paris. (According to some accounts the Mass was interrupted by snipping from both the internal and external galleries.)
* 12 November 1970; The Requiem Mass of General de Gaulle is held here.
* 31 May 1980; After the Magnificat of this day, Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass on the parvis in front of the Cathedral.

(drawing courtesy of Raphael Labro)