NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

The Notre Dame de Paris ( "Our Lady of Paris") or simply Notre Dame is one of the largest and well-known churches in the world. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris. 

 The cathedral is famous for its reliquary that apparently houses some relics in the Passion of Christ namely; the crown of thorns, a fragment of the True Cross and one of the Holy Nails.

 

The Notre Dame's  architecture  is said to be the finest example of Gothic architecture in France and Europe as well.

 The flying buttress(arched exterior supports) around the choir and nave  of the Cathedral was added to the original design as a added support. Small statues like gargoyles and chimeras were individually crafted and placed outside as supports for columns and water spouts.

For closer view of the bell and gargoyles and panoramic view of Paris, there is a narrow spiral stairs of 387 steps going to the top.

Near the altar is a scale model of the cathedral made of wood. Glass encased-displays also shows how the cathedral was constructed.