One of the best known cathedrals in the world is an elaborate Gothic Catholic landmark that is visited by more than 13 million people per year, a historic treasure and the seat of the Arch Diocese of Paris. A cathedral has been on the site near the River Seine since the 4th Century and construction on the current building officially called Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris started in 1163 with the first brick being laid in front of Pope Alexander III and lasted until 1345. Much of Notre Dame Cathedral had to be restored after major destruction in the 1790s during the French Revolution. Notable sights of the French cathedral include The Crown of Thorns, a piece and a nail from the cross that Jesus was crucified on, the 10 bells, its stained glass windows, the many gargoyles and The Great Organ. Many of the site's religious relics are kept in the archaeological crypt located underneath the cathedral. Notre Dame visitors who can make it up the 387 steps of the South Tower can view the famed Emmanuel Bell and many gargoyle sculptures up close as well as get a breathtaking view of Paris.
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