Place du Parvis Notre-Dame

The Archaeological Crypt Notre Dame is located under Notre-Dame Cathedral square - Parvis Notre-Dame-Place Jean Paul II.

A maze of narrow and busy lanes lined with houses, shops, churches, an orphanage and even a hospital, once encompassed it.

Haussmann demolished them in the 1860's to enlarge the church square by six-fold.

All that is left of their presence are the light colour paving stones that delineate their former layout.

The Hôtel-Dieu dated back to 660AD and was the oldest hospital in Paris.

It was located by the river, where the equestrian statue of Emperor Charlemagne today stands.

Hausmmann rebuilt it in Rue d'Arcole, on the northern side of the square.

The splendid portal of the Eglise Saint-Pierre-aux-Boeufs was rescovered; it now serves as main door to Saint-Sévérin Church in the Latin Quarter.

The medieval district has long gone and has left place to a spacious square that beautifully showcases the cathedral.

The Parvis Notre-Dame is also where you'll find the Bronze Star, embedded in the ground outside the entrance to Notre-Dame.