History of Notre Dame Cathedral

Placed in the little Cité island, and surrounded by the waters of the river Seine, Notre Dame Cathedral, or Our Lady, is a seamless mirror for the history of Paris, a cultural symbol for its citizenry, and one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in France.

Tag along to discover its history and how it has influenced pop culture!

Origins and building

The origins of Notre Dame harken back to the Saint Étienne basilica, the earliest Christian temple in Paris, erected by Frankish king Childebert I in the 400s upon a Roman temple. Later on, over the remains of this church, a different one was built in Romanesque style, which would be in use until the mid-1100s.

The building of Notre Dame Cathedral got under way in 1163 under the oversight of the bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, and King Louis VII, with financial support from all social classes in the city. By 1182, the choir already provided church services and, shortly after that, the main nave was completed. The western façade and both of its towers would be erected during the 1200s, as well as the temple’s transept.

Relevant historical events

Notre Dame Cathedral has borne witness to some of the most relevant historical events taking place in Paris, such as the execution in the flames of Jacques de Molay, the last Templar Grand Master, in 1314, or the beatification of Joan of Arc in 1909.

It has also beholden coronations of kings, such as Henry VI of England (during the Hundred Years’ War), and emperors like Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine, as well as royal weddings, including Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo.

During the French Revolution, Notre Dame was deconsecrated and the State took over its ownership. In addition to that, many of its original architectural elements were destroyed, and its treasures were stolen, as the temple ended up as a food warehouse until Napoleon returned it to the Church in 1802.

Renovations and changes

The cathedral was already altered in the 1600s, during the rule of Louis XIV, when Baroque elements in accordance with the fashion of those times were added. Besides this, the original cathedral spire was unassembled in the 1700s due to its state of disrepair.

It would be during the 1800s when Notre Dame underwent its most important refurbishments thanks to the literary success of Victor Hugo’s work titled “Notre Dame de Paris” (known in English as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1831), which made the citizens see the temple in a more affectionate light once again.

Thus, in 1844, an extensive renovation program kicked off in Notre Dame under the care of architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Its surroundings were cleared off in order to bestow further visibility on the building, gable windows were added, its central spire and the southern rose window were renovated, the chapels and altars which were destroyed during the Revolution were rebuilt, and the famous gargoyles and chimaeras dotting the heights of Notre Dame were added too, among many other Neo-Gothic sculptures.

Notre Dame Architecture

Gothic style and highlights

Notre Dame’s style, whose construction began in 1163, is heavily influenced by the Saint Denis basilica, a mausoleum of kings and the first church to ever be built in Early Gothic style in France (twenty years before Notre Dame). Because of this, Notre Dame Cathedral showcases a duality of elements: on the one hand, there are reminiscences from Norman Romanesque and, on the other hand, also the lightness and verticality of Early Gothic.

Boasting a cross-shaped layout with five naves and a double ambulatory, its most famous architectural feature is undoubtedly its façade. The western façade, which is the main one at Notre Dame, is the part that resembles Saint Denis and Norman Romanesque the most. It presents three horizontal levels divided by counterforts, and its main elements are: the northern and southern towers, the rose window, the chimaera gallery (Neo-gothic), the gallery of the kings, and the three access gates.

The indoors of Notre Dame stand out for their luminosity thanks to its Gothic windows, covered in breath-taking stained glass.

Comparison with other cathedrals

Compared to other French Gothic cathedrals, such as Chartres or Reims, Notre Dame certainly looks more austere due to its architecture in an Early Gothic style. That does not make it any less beautiful, on the contrary, the elegance of its unique style makes it one of the most peculiar, alluring, and visited temples in Europe.

The 2019 fire and restoration

The fire in Notre Dame broke out on the afternoon of April 15th, 2019, in the building’s rooftop, causing considerable damage. It was probably accidental, brought about by a slip of the mind during its restoration works, and the fire raged on for nine hours before it was put out. Thanks to the strenuous efforts of Paris’ firemen, most of the building was saved from the flames.

Impact of the fire

The fire in Notre Dame caused devastating damage to the building, as both the ceiling and the spire by Viollet-le-Duc collapsed. Some indoor areas were also deteriorated, as well as several religious items kept in the temple.

Restoration process

The consolidation and restoration of Notre Dame started right after the fire. Over two hundred and fifty companies cooperate or have cooperated in the rebuilding of Notre Dame, and its final cost will likely exceed 700 million euros. The restoration process is currently above 90%, and its gates are expected to open to the public by Christmas 2024.

Notre Dame in popular culture

Literature, cinema and music

Notre Dame became worldwide famous and returned to the hearts of Parisians thanks to Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Published in 1831, it recounted the harrowing misfortunes of Quasimodo and Esmeralda in 1400s Paris against the backdrop of the cathedral. Quasimodo, the “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, the cathedral bell-ringer, serves Victor Hugo as a conduit to praise a temple that he loved dearly himself.

Thanks to this novel, Notre Dame has reached many other fields of popular culture, such as cinema, with movies like “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939), “Notre Dame de Paris” (1956) featuring Anthony Quinn, or the animated Disney movie, also titled “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” which, in 1996, turned Victor Hugo’s romantic drama into a story for all publics.

Symbolism of Notre Dame

Notre Dame is, in short, one more symbol of Parisian identity, just like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum or the Arc de Triomphe might be, as well as a veritable must-see, should you be in town.

Religious significance of Notre Dame

A hub for Catholicism

Like the cathedral it is, Notre Dame also holds a deep religious significance for French and international Catholicism.

Devoted to Mary, as it was usual during the Late Middle Ages (when the veneration of Mary was introduced by popular demand), Notre Dame Cathedral is the core of Paris’ holy geography and a symbol of its people’s resilience and faith.

Treasure and relics

Three relics of enormous importance to the Church are kept within Notre Dame, namely the Crown of Thorns, a piece from the Calvary Cross, and one of Christ’s Holy Nails. Known as the Relics of the Passion, they are only on public display occasionally, during noteworthy festivities such as Lent or Easter.

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