Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Paris, meaning Our Lady of Paris, is a medieval Catholic cathedral in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. Begun in 1160 and largely completed by 1260, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. In the 1790s, protestors desecrated and damaged much of it during the French Revolution. The 1831 publication of Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, led to a revived interest in the building and a 25 year restoration project began in 1845. 12 million people visit Notre Dame every year, making it the most visited monument in Paris.