Construction of Notre Dame de Paris began in 1163 on the Île de la Cité, the heart of the medieval city of Paris. Nearly 900 years later, its sculptures, stained glass, and flying buttresses still inspire and awe. The first stone of the cathedral is laid with Pope Alexander III in attendance.

Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris) is a gothic cathedral in Paris’s fourth arrondissement. Original construction began on the famous cathedral in 1163, with the first stone supposedly laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III.