A gigantic project of phenomenal scope

A gigantic project of phenomenal scope

The need for a larger, more majestic building was felt, in keeping with the capital of the bishopric and the country, as well as the ambition of the new bishop Maurice de Sully. Thus began one of the longest construction projects that France has ever had to carry out, a project that lasted nearly 200 years, and which required a great deal of technique, organization and time. It required a lot of technique, organization and know-how to achieve this remarkable result.

« La tête, le cœur, la moelle de la ville entière. »

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Two centuries of technique, architecture and work

In 1163, the first stone of Notre-Dame was laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III.

It is emblematic of the ogival art, also called Gothic art, an innovative style recently used for the construction of churches and cathedrals at the time. The vaulting system is made of ribbed vaults, in order to place the stained glass windows and let the light through. High vault height, to be as close as possible to the sky. Four-story elevation supported by galleries to hold the roof. Numerous buttresses on the outside to counterbalance the thrust of the high vaults.
Several campaigns of work have taken place, so that we can distinguish stages :

• 1163-1225 : construction of the choir and its double ambulatory, the nave, the aisles and the tribunes, elevated facade to the gallery of kings
• 1225-1250 : high gallery and the two towers on the facade, modification and enlargement of the high windows and arrangement of the side chapels of the nave.

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Two centuries of technique, architecture and work

Having undergone the ravages of time and Men, notably with several fires (including one recently).

It was with the return of the monarchy to France that further changes to the Palace took place, including the creation of several new posts and the enlargement of the Palace to cope with the growing number of cases. This work was started in earnest by the July Monarchy, just after the Restoration period. The work was delayed and temporarily halted due to several fires (in particular the multi-fire of 1871), wars and redesigns. The conciergerie was not restored until 1883, and most of the buildings were either abandoned or restored in the following years. Since 1914, we have not had any large-scale restorations like these.

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Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

In addition to being the most famous Gothic cathedral in France, Notre Dame de Paris is also a major novel by Victor Hugo.

Published in 1831, it tells the story of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Frollo and Phoebus. A story of love, hatred and indifference, a story of passion as well, whose adventures are mostly known for the numerous adaptations, more than for the text itself. Indeed, this novel of 940 pages is to be reserved for the hands and eyes of seasoned readers, voracious or determined. The plots are as complex as the characters, the scenes stretch for pages and pages of action and description. And yet, an exceptional literary quality, like a reward, awaits the reader who will open the pages of Notre-Dame de Paris, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful novels ever written in the French language.

« La tête, le cœur, la moelle de la ville entière. »

The coronation of Napoleon in the cathedral of Notre Dame, May 18, 1804.

The coronation of Napoleon I is the enthronement and coronation ceremony that followed the proclamation of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of the French under the title of Napoleon I on 18 May 1804.

The religious ceremony of the coronation, officiated by Pope Pius VII, followed by the coronation, took place on Sunday, December 2, 1804, at Notre-Dame de Paris. It lasted nearly five hours and the painter Jacques-Louis David painted two pictures of it: the Coronation of Napoleon and the Distribution of the Eagles. The Rite of Napoleon (full title Rite of Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, December 2, 1804) is a picture painted between 1805 and 1807 by Jacques-Louis David, official painter of Napoleon I, which represents one of the coronation ceremonies. Imposing by its dimensions, almost ten meters by more than six, the painting of David is preserved in the Louvre. An almost identical replica, begun in 1808 by David and completed during the painter's exile in Brussels, hangs in the Coronation Room of the Château de Versailles. The coronation and the coronation took place at Notre-Dame de Paris.

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How to visit Notre Dame?

Today the reconstruction is still in progress, and a complete reopening is not expected before 2024, but we can still visit the monument thanks to a new method, virtual reality.

An immersive visit proposed under the square of Notre Dame and in the Defense, it makes you see the cathedral from different angles and at different times, allowing you to walk inside as if you were there. Originally available until April 14th, it is maintained until the 4th september 2022, this is an experience not to be missed, allowing you to cross the ages and discover the past with the technologies of the present, while waiting to be able to step into the cathedral again in the near future.