File:Notre Dame de Paris view from the coach (11th July 2009).jpg

English: This view of the Notre Dame de Paris taken from the coach we were on at the time.

This masterpiece of Gothic architecture is one of Paris' most famous landmarks and one of France's most visited religious monuments. In 1163, the Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, launched the construction of the cathedral, which took nearly 200 years to complete.

>1163 Cornerstone laid for Notre Dame de Paris — construction begins. >1250–1345 Remaining elements completed. Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", dedicated to the Virgin Mary) -- often referred to simply as "Notre Dame", in English -- is a Gothic cathedral located on the Île de la Cité, in the Seine river in Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.

I think that this was my first photo of the world famous cathedral. Later got more views from the River Seine river cruise we went on.

The spire and roof was destroyed in a fire on the 15th April 2019, almost 10 years since I first saw the cathedral! (I have not been back to Paris since 2009, but have been back to France on a few other holidays over the years since).