A brief history of Notre Dame in Paris

Of all the monuments in Paris, Notre Dame has the longest and richest history.

This colossal Gothic cathedral has offered unparalleled views of the city of Paris for over 850 years.

Between the 11^th and 12^th centuries, Paris emerged as the centre of power in France – politically, economically, and intellectually.

On 12 October 1160, Maurice De Sully assumed the office of Bishop of Paris and declared his intention to demolish the church of Saint Etienne and erect in its place a new monument to the Virgin Mary that would reflect the capital's new status.

The first foundations of the monument were laid three years later, in the presence of King Louis VIII Le Jeune and Pope Alexander III.

The initial construction period of the building lasted almost 200 years, during which many architects such as Jean De Chelles, Pierre De Montreuil, and others contributed to its new Gothic style.

Finally, the Notre Dame monument was completed in 1345.

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King Henry VI

One of the first significant events in the monument's history came in 1431 when Henry VI, King of England, was also crowned King of France on 16 December amidst the Hundred Years' War.

During the 16^th century, the condition of the cathedral deteriorated significantly, with tombs and stained-glass windows destroyed in the name of modernisation.

At the same time, several external features were either removed or vandalised in the name of idolatry.

However, Robert De Cotte led renovation work in the 1600s under the wishes of Louis XIII.

 

The French Revolution

The fate of the Notre Dame monument again took a downturn during the French Revolution.

The church was converted into a food and drink store (!) and led to destruction.

Many of the statues inside the church lost their heads or other prominent parts.

The severed heads were considered lost until they were discovered in 1977 and are now preserved in the Musée de Cluny.

 

Napoleon's influence

Napoleon saved the church from destruction and was crowned emperor in December 1804.

Further essential restoration took place between 1845 and 1870 under the blessings of the reigning King Louis Philippe I.

 

The World Wars and their impact on Notre Dame

Fortunately, neither of the World Wars caused significant damage to Notre Dame – although various artworks were removed for fear of Nazi vandalism or looting.

The second half of the 20^th century saw significant but more careful modernisation, including the mechanisation of the 13-tonne bell and extensive cleaning of the facades and sculptures.

On 15 April 2019, the whole world watched in horror as a major fire engulfed the cathedral and its medieval roof.

Fortunately, Notre Dame's bell towers survived the fire along with the three iconic rose windows and the centuries-old organ.

It will certainly take some time before visitors can once again see the 850-year-old cathedral and hear the bells ring again.