Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris – Our Lady of Paris – was begun in 1160 and for all intents and purposes completed a hundred years later.   

With more than 12 million visitors every year it is the most popular monument in Paris. 

Yesterday the cathedral caught fire resulting in the collapse of the main spire and the entire roof.  All of France and much of the world mourn the loss of this cultural and religious treasure.

 

 

click on images for a closer look

 

Jill and I have vacationed in France three times over the past seven years including stays in Paris - one of our favorite cities.     

 

Our most recent trip was early in 2017 - the first travel we've completed with close friends in many years.  It included attending services at the cathedral for the presentation of the Crown of Thorns.  In the interest of full disclosure I was scolded for the sacrilege of shooting some video in church. Chalk it up to a lack of refinement or ugly Americanism.  I endured some latent and fleeting Catholic guilt.  But I digress.  

 

In retrospect I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to attend services at this historic, architectural, religious and cultural treasure with close friends.  And taking the dang video too.      

 

Who knew....