Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", meaning the church in Paris dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus), often known simply as Notre Dame in English, is a gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris, France, with its main entrance to the west. While a major tourist destination, it is still used as a Roman Catholic cathedral (archbishopric of Paris). Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered the finest example of French gothic architecture.

Significant events at Notre-Dame

• Heraclius of Caesarea called for the Third Crusade from the still incomplete Notre Dame in 1185.
• Henry VI of England was crowned King of France in Notre Dame in 1431.
• Mary I of Scotland is married in Notre Dame to the Dauphin Francois (later Francois II of France), son of Henry II of France, on April 24, 1558.
• Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) marries Marguerite de Valois in Notre Dame on August 18, 1572.
• Napoleon Bonaparte, who had declared the Empire on May 28, 1804, was crowned Emperor at Notre Dame on December 2, 1804.
• Joan of Arc is beatified in 1909 in Notre Dame.
• The Te Deum Mass took place in the cathedral to celebrate the liberation of Paris in August 26, 1944.
• The Requiem Mass of General Charles de Gaulle took place in the cathedral on November 12, 1970.

Generally, French Catholic religious events of national significance take place in Notre-Dame.

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