History Of The Cathedral Of Notre Dame De Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most visited monuments in Paris. It is also one of the most beautiful Gothic temples in Europe and one of the churches that hides the most legends, secrets and stories. Would you like to know the history of this wonderful construction? Well, we will tell you!

The site of Notre Dame Cathedral 

The place where Notre Dame Cathedral stands has a long history.  Centuries before the temple was built these were already sacred grounds, where Celts and Romans performed religious ceremonies.

Later, this would be the place chosen to build the first Christian church in Paris, the Saint-Etienne basilica, which would replace the Notre Dame cathedral that we know today.

The beginnings of Notre Dame cathedral

When Maurice de Sully was elected as bishop of Paris in 1160, the city was booming politically, intellectually and economically. For this reason, the new bishop believed it necessary to advance also in a religious and spiritual sense.

A temple in honor of the Virgin Mary was needed to be the main church of the city and to reflect the spirit and values ​​of the time. But for its fame to spread, it had to be in an urban place, as central as possible. What could that place be? The site of the Saint-Etienne church.

In 1163, just three years after de Sully’s appointment, the previous temple had already been demolished and the Notre Dame Cathedral began to rise. A temple that fused the idea of ​​building an imposing place of worship with the idea of ​​taking advantage of all the innovations of a new architectural style: the Gothic.

The works of the cathedral were carried out quickly and without interruptions, thanks to the financial support of all social classes. Thus, the works would not last more than a century.

In 1182 cults were already being held in the choir, in 1250 chapels and towers of the façade had been completed and in 1267 the arms of the transept had already been built.

The builders of Notre Dame cathedral

Several architects directed the construction of the cathedral. Among them we can mention Jean de Chelles, Pierre Montreuil, Pierre de Chelles or Jean Ravy.

Meanwhile, Jacques el Chevallier was the master glassmaker in charge of creating the colossal works of art that can be seen in the form of large windows inside Notre Dame.

The reforms of the Notre Dame cathedral

Throughout its history the cathedral has undergone various modifications. The most important was made in the seventeenth century, in order to adapt some of its spaces to the tastes of the time and the style of the moment: the Baroque.

During the French Revolution the temple suffered considerable damage. But decades later, at the height of Romanticism, it was decided to undertake an ambitious restoration. The architects in charge were Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Jean-Baptiste Lassus. From that time, they are, for example, part of the famous gargoyles.

Essential elements of Notre Dame Cathedral

This cathedral is magnificent in every way. But there are two aspects that you should pay special attention to when you visit it.

The western facade

This facade is the most spectacular of the cathedral. Its three doors hide a multitude of details that can be easily admired since 2000 thanks to a cleaning that was carried out and lasted ten years.

The organ

We couldn’t talk about Notre Dame Cathedral without talking about its organ. An instrument that has been improved and expanded over the centuries and that can still be heard today. It is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

As you can see, Notre Dame Cathedral has an incredible history. A history that reflects that of the city itself in which it has risen for more than eight hundred years.