Norte Dame

This masterpiece of Gothic architecture stands in the very center of where Paris began, on an island in between the River Seine. It was built in the Middle Ages and after the French Revolution the cathedral fell into disrepair with the French distaste of religion. In fact during the revolution, the heads of the statues along the facade were cut off.  But the book the Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo brought it back into favor and there was a huge restoration inside the cathedral in the 1800s. Napoleon was crowned here, just like Charlemagne many centuries ago. Before heading in for our visit we stopped in a garden across the street to get some great photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And something I have never seen in all the times I've been here - this lady was cleaning the walls of the cathedral on top of scaffolding with a vacuum and broom attachment!