Notre Dame de Paris, that caught fire Monday 15, It is one of the most important monuments of the French capital, where they have been milestones in the history of the country, and one of the key works of Gothic architecture.

Cathedral of Our Lady (in French, Notre-Dame cathedral), located on the small island of la Cité, surrounded by the waters of the River Seine, It is a cathedral of Catholic worship, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris, and it is one of the oldest buildings in the Gothic style.

Its construction began in 1163 and it was completed in the year 1345, and it is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, so it became one of the most popular monuments of the French capital for tourists, with a total of 13 million visits annually.

“His fame is overrated: It is one of the masterpieces of Gothic architecture. More than a historical monument, This cathedral is above all "God's House and the House of Man", because this building, living faith and prayer of the faithful, It is loaded with human experiences and Christian”, They say on the official website of the cathedral.

The site chosen to erect a special place, since in the Ile de la Cité the Celts celebrated their cults in antiquity. It is also the place where the first church existed Paris: the Basilica of Saint-Etienne.

Construction of the cathedral began after Maurice de Sully was elected bishop of Paris 1160, when he proposed the demolition of the former Saint-Etienne and construction of Notre Dame.

In the presence of Pope Alexander III, in 1163 Construction of the cathedral began in the Gothic style, which demonstrated the aspirations of society at that time, when the city resurfaces politically and economically, to ascend the wealthy bourgeoisie.

Several architects participated in the project, including various modifications to the years long.

The first major alteration took place in the late seventeenth century (in the reign of Louis XIV), when the tombs and stained glass windows were replaced by Baroque elements.

During the French Revolution many elements of the cathedral were destroyed and several stolen treasures, It is told through the web of the Cathedral.

In this cathedral they took place important events in the history of France as the coronation of Napoleon and Henry IV, or the beatification of Joan of Arc.

Notre Dame de Paris is shaped like a Latin cross, with a large body of five ships, more lateral chapels.

The nave has a total 127 meters long and 48 Wide. from cruise (a cross-sectional ship that forms the short arm in a church) particularly short, have 14 meters wide and 48 meters long, that is to say, the same as the width of the ship.

At the same time, building reaches the needle (Dome) a maximum height of 96 meters and a total area of 5.500 square meter.

In the organization of the facade, that follows a hierarchical and geometric pattern, They can distinguish the north tower, la torre on, Gallery chimeras, Western rose window, Gallery of the Kings and the three doors representing the Virgin, the Last Judgment and Santa Ana.