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Notre Dame
| Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A medieval Catholic cathedral built on an island in the Seine in Paris, France, this outstanding example of French Gothic architecture, the Notre Dame, dates back to the 12th-13th centuries. Construction began in 1163 and was completed in 1260 during the administration of Bishop Maurice de Sully, who was also the architect.
However, the cathedral suffered much damage during the French Revolution and was converted into a Temple of Reason and Temple of the Supreme Being in 1793. In 1801, Napoleon restored its status as a Catholic Church. Between 1844 and 1864, the structure underwent major restorations to revert to the original Gothic style. This was partly due to the success of Victor Hugo’s novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Despite the characters of Esmeralda and Quasimodo, it is the cathedral that remains central to the story. Lamenting the disfigurement of the structure, Hugo writes: “On the face of this ancient queen of our cathedrals, beside each wrinkle one invariably finds a scar.”
Stained glass windo
| Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
The cathedral is famous for its stained glass windows that spread over 1,100 sq.ft. The central portal in the west facade has a triptych showing the Last Judgement.
A gargoyle at Notre Dame
| Photo Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
Strange sculptures
Another feature that attracts a lot of attention are the gargoyles. These weird and grotesque sculptures serve the purpose of draining rainwater away from the building but are also said to be the building’s protectors.
The church has 21 bells, all of which are named after an important person connected with the structure. The largest and oldest is Emmanuel in the south tower. Named by Emperor Louis XIV, it was cast in 1683 and announced the liberation of Paris from the Germans in 1944. During the French Revolution, the bells were lowered and melted down, except Emmanuel. Later, new bells were made to replace those lost.
In April 2019, a devastating fire caused extensive damage to the structure. Notre Dame’s “forest” — the lattice-like wooden structure under the roof constructed from centuries-old oak trees — was destroyed. It is being replaced with 26 timber frames. Another casualty was the wooden spire, which collapsed. A lot of the exterior walls and interiors were also severely damaged. Repair and restoration is currently on and the cathedral will be opened to public from December 8.
Fun facts
Paris’ geographic centre, or Point Zéro, is right in front of Notre Dame.
In 1884, Napoleon crowned himself the Emperor of France from this cathedral.
Till the fire in 2019, the cathedral held the Crown of Thorns (a relic that is supposed to contain pieces of the crown that Jesus wore before his crucifixion).
The cathedral is believed to have been built on the remains of the Gallo-Roman city of Lutetia, which also was the site of a temple to Jupiter.
Published – December 06, 2024 10:30 am IST
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A marvel from the past
