When was the Notre-Dame cathedral initially built?
Construction of the Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) cathedral began in 1163 and was largely completed by 1260 – in the 12th and 13th centuries. In March 2022, archaeologists found an ancient lead sarcophagus in the lower levels of the building, which is currently under reconstruction after a devastating fire in 2019. The lead casket probably belonged to a high dignitary and could date back to the 14th century.