Part 1. Notre-Dame de Paris - Before the Fire: The Construction and History of Notre-Dame de Paris

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Russell Kelley is Vice President of the Alliance Française Miami Metro where he has curated four series of Zoom lectures about the History and Heritage of France, including one about “The Great Churches of Paris”. He has lived in Paris for more than 30 years – and next to Notre-Dame for the past 20 years – and is the author of The Making of Paris: The Story of How Paris Evolved from a Fishing Village into the World’s Most Beautiful City (Lyons Press, 2021).

 

In partnership with the Alliance Française Miami Metro, the Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris



Upcoming Events

Thursday, December 11, 2025

This lecture will provide a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant architectural restoration projects of our time, describing the painstaking process behind the meticulous rebuilding and restoration of the cathedral, from the careful documentation of architectural elements to the revival of centuries-old craftsmanship techniques.

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Thursday, December 18, 2025

Part 3 of our Before and After series looks to the future of Notre-Dame’s surroundings. In 2022, the City of Paris chose Bas Smets and his team to redesign the public spaces around the cathedral. He will present plans for the forecourt, underground areas, the Jean XXIII garden, and the riverbanks—an ambitious project designed to create a cooler microclimate.

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Story Time

L'Heure du Conte

French story time!

Saturday, November 22, 2025

We invite parents and children to gather in the children's room of our library for a magical story time in French!

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