Notre-Dame, a medieval Catholic cathedral located in Paris, is considered one of the most popular tourist attractions in the French capital. But what else can you say about this fascinating building? Here are some fun facts you need to know!
1. Constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Notre-Dame of Paris is considered to be one of the first examples of French Gothic architecture.
2. The cathedral lays on a Gallo-Roman pagan city known as Lutetia.
3. The Notre-Dame lattice is known as “The Forest” and it has one of the oldest surviving wood timber frames in the French capital. 52 acres of trees were cut down in the 12th century for the purpose of its construction.
4. The towers of the cathedral aren’t twins. At first glance, it may appear like two identical towers, but if you look closely, you can see the difference: the north tower is bigger than the south.
5. All the bells were melted down to make artillery. In the 19th century they were replaced, but they weren’t as finely made as the originals.
6. The famous gargoyles sculptures were added in the 19th century.
7. You can find a small hive of bees on the roof, which was installed in 2013 by a monk called Brother Adam.