N is for Notre Dame
We were very lucky to be invited to an organ concert at Notre Dame ( in February 2025), a short while after it reopened. The atmosphere was very cheerful and emotional among the crowds who had gathered to enjoy the music of Thierry Escaich.
As I entered the beautifully reconstructed cathedral, I was stunned by the quality of the craftsmanship used to preserve this unique building.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is on the Île de la Cité, which is an island in the River Seine.
The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was built in 1163 and opened in 1345. The building was severely damaged by fire on 15 April 2019; the spire and roof were completely destroyed, but the walls and some historical relics were saved. The cathedral reopened to public visits on the 7th of December 2024
In front of the cathedral is the “Point zéro des routes de France”, the spot which marks the beginning of all road distances in France.
The closest Metro station to the cathedral is Cité on line 4.
N is for Nouvelle Athènes
The “Nouvelle Athènes” (New Athens) is a historical quarter in the 9th arrondissement. Many famous writers, artists, musicians, and actors from the 19th century are associated with the area, as it became a centre of culture and Parisian Romanticism; for example, Victor Hugo, Chopin and Paul Gauguin. As you walk the streets, you’ll notice the different construction styles and the very Greek-looking church of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
Use the Metro station at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette on line 12