Notre Dame Cathedral is - right after the Eiffel Tower - the most recognizable building in France and by far it is the most popular tourist attraction. It is in fact the only place of such importance in the French capital, which can be visited for free. This Gothic church was built on the island of Ile de la Cité in the heart of the city and its construction lasted almost 200 years (it was completed in the mid-16th century). This incredible building was almost completely destroyed during the French Revolution. It lost the roof but avoided complete destruction only due to the fact that the revolutionaries were afraid of damaging the buildings surrounding the cathedral.
