English: Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world.

Construction began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, and opinion differs as to whether the Bishop de Sully or Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone of the cathedral. However, both were at the ceremony in question. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

In the 1790s, Notre-Dame suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. An extensive restoration began in 1845. The work on the Cathedral continued over the years and was completed between 1250–1345. In 1991, a major program of maintenance and restoration was initiated and took much longer than planned.