France, Jan. 5 -- A tear rolls down Jessica's cheek as she leaves Notre-DameCathedral in Paris.

Inside, she and her brother had lit a small candle in tribute to their father, who passed away earlier in 2025.

"These are happy tears, because it was a joyful experience. This building is magnificent. The way it was built, the artwork inside, thestained glasswindows, the statues, the paintings... everything is incredible. It was one of my dreams, soI'mglad I came," explainsthis tourist from California."It fills me with joy."

2025 was a record-breaking year for visitors to the cathedral, with more than 11 million worshippers and tourists welcomed - crowning Notre-Dame France's most visited monument. Notre-Dame's dual role

In the queue for e...