Why is Notre Dame so famous, who built the cathedral and when?
THE challenging redesign of Notre Dame’s historic spire has been opened to international architects days after a catastrophic blaze toppled the wood and lead beacon.
The cathedral, which has survived almost 900 years of tumultuous French history, will remain closed for up to six years as a result of the devastating inferno. But why is the church so famous, and who built it?
Why is the Notre Dame Cathedral so famous?
The Notre Dame Cathedral – the scene of a savage blaze on April 15 – is of huge historical and cultural importance to France and the world.
The Catholic treasure was built in the Middle Ages, and is more than 850 years old.
In 1160, Bishop Maurice decided to start building a shrine in the tradition of Gothic art.
The 12th-century church has long been home to relics, stained glass and other works of art of incalculable value.
A Unesco World Heritage site that attracts 14 million tourists a year, it’s widely regarded as one of the finest monuments of Gothic French architecture.
Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay said: “Notre Dame represents a historically, architecturally and spiritually outstanding universal heritage.”
Historians say its location, on the small island called Île de la Cité in Paris, in the middle of the River Seine, was once occupied by a pagan Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter.
Thankfully, its world famous 18th century organ, boasting 8,000 pipes, has apparently survived the devastating fire.
The cathedral was immortalised in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, featuring Frollo, Quasimodo and Esmeralda – with the classic later turned into a Disney film adaptation.
It has survived two world wars, the French Revolution, Nazi occupation and Hitler’s intention to raze it to the ground.
The church has a 13th century Rose window – which was removed during the Second World War for fear of Nazi vandalism or looting.
Notre Dame is renowned for its rib vaulting, flying buttresses and stunning stained glass windows, as well as its many carved stone gargoyles.
The monument’s 100-metre-long (330-foot) roof, of which a large section was gutted in the first hour of the blaze, is one of the oldest such structures in Paris, according to the cathedral’s website.
Notre Dame is famous for many reasons, including for being at the centre of major historical events, including:
- In 1431, Britain’s King Henry VI was crowned King of France in the cathedral
- The coronation of French Emperor Napoleon I was also at Notre Dame
- In 1909, Joan of Arc was beatified in the cathedral by Pope Pius X
As German Chancellor Angela Merkel poignantly explained, the cathedral is a “symbol of France and our European culture”.
Samantha Silva, an eyewitness left in tears by the fire, which claimed its spire and roof, said the capital would “never be the same. It’s a real symbol of Paris”.
A heartbroken 55-year-old art historian, Fabrice, added: “Part of ourselves has been destroyed.
“I always go for a walk in this area every day and come to see Notre Dame. It’s like coming to visit an elderly parent.”
Who built the cathedral, and when did construction start?
Notre Dame celebrated its 850th anniversary in 2013.
In 1160, Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, said he wanted to demolish the Church of Saint-Etienne and replace it with a monument to the Virgin Mary – a shrine in the tradition of Gothic art.
The first stone was laid in 1163, during the reign of King Louis VII, and it took nearly two centuries to complete, with the building extended until 1345.
explains that numerous architects such as Jean de Chelles, Pierre de Montreuil, Pierre de Chelles, Jean Ravy, and Jean le Bouteiller contributed to its new Gothic style during those 200 years.
In the 1600s, Robert de Cotte led renovation works, as its condition had deteriorated.
During the French Revolution, the landmark was turned into a food and wine store, and “many of its statues lost their heads”, adds Culture Trip.
It was damaged and neglected in the 1790s – with Hugo’s novel telling readers about its decrepit condition.
As a result, it underwent significant overhauls from 1844 to 1864, when architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc revamped the spire and flying buttresses.
Its spire – dating back to the mid-19th century – was made of wood and covered in lead coating, and was regarded as a religious beacon called la fléche, meaning arrow, explains The Washington Post.
Until it was razed on Monday, it had replaced an earlier spire that was removed in the late 1700s after centuries of damage by the wind.
Notre Dame’s rector says he will close the burned-out Paris cathedral for up to six years.
France has announced the redesign of Notre Dame’s spire is open to international architects.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said: “This is obviously a huge challenge, a historic responsibility.”
