Notre-Dame-de-Paris : a long way over 8 centuries, at 300 m from la Sainte Chapelle, la Tour de l'Horloge and le Palais de Justice de la cité.
Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral: from its modest origin to now
A simple royal parish church in the Middle Ages, now a cathedral, commonly known as Notre-Dame, is one of the most emblematic monuments of Paris and France. It is located in the center of Paris, on the Ile de la Cité. It is a Catholic place of worship and seat of the archdiocese of Paris, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The impulse of the bishop Maurice de Sully with the help of Victor Hugo
Started under the impetus of Bishop Maurice de Sully, its construction took more than two centuries, from 1163 to the middle of the 14th century. It suffered many damages during the French Revolution.
It was not saved until the publication of Victor Hugo's book "Notre Dame de Paris" published in 1831. This novel is both a story of compassion and heroism and in the face of the demolition project due to the dilapidated state of the building, a saving appeal by Victor Hugo for its restoration. It led to an important restoration between 1844 and 1864, by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, who incorporated new elements and motifs. For these reasons, the style is not of a total uniformity: the cathedral has characters of the primitive Gothic and the radiant Gothic. The two rosettes, which adorn each arm of the transept, are among the largest in Europe.
Victor Hugo's book also inspired many films, songs, a musical "Notre-Dame de Paris" whose premiere was played on September 16, 1998, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
The treasures of Notre-Dame-de-Paris
The Cathedral contains priceless treasures. The building itself: towers, stained-glass windows, sculptures, portals, rosettes, gargoyles, spire, chapels. But also its organ, historical bells, and of course "The Treasure of Notre Dame", reliquaries and relics, precious manuscripts, cult objects and souvenirs of Popes,
Before the fire of April 15, 2019, Notre-Dame-de-Paris was the most visited Parisian Monuments. It attracted about twenty million pilgrims and visitors per year, including fourteen million entering the cathedral.
The cathedral on fire, in the evening of April 15, 2019
The fire destroyed the roof of the cathedral and its 13th-century framework, the arrow of Viollet-le-Duc architect, and several vaults forming the ceiling (that of the transept crossing, that of the north transept, and a span of the nave). The next day, in a special televised address, President Macron declared: "We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautiful, and I want it completed within five years". So we'll see you in 2024 for the reopening.
The reconstruction of the Cathedral de Notre-Dame-de-Paris
The work is on the right track despite enormous difficulties to save the walls that remained in an unstable balance. Another problem has been the dispersion of molten lead by heat and fumes scattered in the surrounding area, dangerous for the health of the local residents. Everything has been secured and reconstruction can begin. Will the 2024 objective be met because the work is enormous?
Can we visit the Cathedral in the meantime?
In the meantime, the Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral and CASA volunteer guides are offering free tours around the cathedral (approximately one hour). The next visits are indicated in the calendar, regularly updated, which you can find on Visiting Notre Dame during reconstruction.
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