Positioned in Ile de la Cité, the Notre Dame Cathedral is Paris’ beating coronary heart. The middle of spiritual energy in Medieval instances, Notre Dame is among the first cathedrals on the planet constructed within the Gothic model.
Visiting Notre Dame Cathedral is a should on each journey to Paris. Nevertheless, following the 2019 hearth, Notre Dame of Paris is closed for reconstruction works. Whereas ready for its reopening, scheduled for 8 December 2024, listed below are some fascinating information about Notre Dame Cathedral.
Historical past of Notre Dame Cathedral
The concept of constructing Notre Dame Cathedral got here into the thoughts of Maurice de Sully shortly after he was named bishop of Paris. At the moment, France was underneath the reign of King Louis VII.
Created to resemble the Cathedral of Saint-Denis, the primary cathedral in-built Gothic model, the development of Notre Dame of Paris started in 1163.
The development befell in several levels. Between 1163 and 1182, the development begins with the choir and the double ambulatory. Between 1182 and 1220, the final three bays of the nave, facet aisles, and galleries. Between 1190 and 1225, the foundations of the façade and the primary two bays of the nave, plus the connection of the 2 bays to the façade, which was raised as much as the Kings’ Gallery. Lastly, from 1225 to 1250, the higher gallery, the 2 towers of the façade, and varied alterations of the excessive home windows and facet chapels.
In 1270, the Cathedral was thought-about completed, nevertheless it underwent additional modifications till 1345.
Go to Notre Dame Cathedral Proper Now
Whereas ready for the reopening in December 2024, listed below are all of the methods to go to Notre Dame Cathedral.
1. Ile de la Cité strolling tour
Taking a guided strolling tour is at all times an effective way to find Paris. Each Ile de la Cité strolling tour passes by Notre Dame Cathedral, which may solely be admired from the surface.
I extremely suggest testing this strolling tour of the Île de la Cité. Due to the skilled information who will lead you round, you’ll study all about its humble beginnings. If you wish to unlock the secrets and techniques of Notre Dame Cathedral and study its historical past and architectural options, you possibly can’t go incorrect with this tour!
2. Digital Actuality Everlasting Notre Dame
An alternate and wonderful strategy to go to Notre Dame Cathedral is to take a digital actuality tour.
Be a part of this digital actuality journey and prepare to expertise 800 years of Notre Dame’s historic occasions, uncover inaccessible locations, and meet important characters who’ve handed via the Cathedral’s doorways.
“Everlasting Notre Dame” is the primary tour of this type, a step again in time with animated three-dimensional photos. So, placed on the headset to stay an immersive sound and visible expertise for a first-hand and distinctive go to to Notre Dame Cathedral.
3. Digital Tour from House
When you can’t make it to Paris, you possibly can discover Notre Dame Cathedral from the consolation of your private home.
There are numerous digital excursions of Paris’ magnificent Cathedral. This is one in every of my favourite movies about Notre Dame Cathedral in English. Shot throughout the restoration works earlier than the fireplace, it tells all in regards to the Cathedral’s historical past and the restore work underway whereas additionally highlighting its architectural parts.
Dates and Program of the Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2024
Not too long ago, the Archbishop of Paris introduced a draft of this system for the reopening of Notre Dame of Paris in 2024:
- TBD November 2024. The celebrations will begin with the return of the statue of Notre Dame, across the finish of November, accompanied by a “nice in style procession within the streets.”
- 7 December 2024. An inauguration will happen, with the “awakening of the organ, a liturgical celebration with blessing, a Magnificat or a Te Deum, after which vespers.”
- 8 December 2024: Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen to most people. The primary mass in years will happen on the day of the Immaculate Conception, with the consecration of the altar.
Curious Details About Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame’s tall silhouette has watched over the Ile de la Cité and Paris for greater than 850 years. Nevertheless, as an excellent witness of France’s historical past, this jewel of Gothic artwork has gone via many darkish hours. From the Center Ages to the 20 th century, listed below are some secrets and techniques and curious information about Notre Dame Cathedral.
1. The Numbers of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cathedral is a implausible work of structure, an actual tour de drive. The figures are spectacular, particularly contemplating it was constructed 850 years in the past! Listed here are only a few numbers in bulk.
- 96 meters – the peak of the spire; 69 meters – the peak of the towers
- 13 meters – diameter of the rose home windows north and south
- 1300 oaks, or 21 hectares of forest, made up the framework
- 500 tons of wooden and 250 tons of lead within the spire
- 35 meters of vaults
- The organ is fabricated from 8 000 pipes
- The Cathedral can host 9 000 trustworthy
- 5 church companies per day, 7 on Sundays, 2 000 church companies per yr
- 32 000 guests per day, 12 million guests per yr
2. Notre Dame was Constructed on the Grounds of 4 Church buildings
The location of Notre Dame is possessed by a robust magnetic tellurism. In Gallo-Roman instances, the positioning was already occupied by a temple devoted to Jupiter. Later, a minimum of 4 church buildings succeeded one another on the identical web site: an early Christian church from the fourth century devoted to Saint-Etienne, a Merovingian basilica, a Carolingian cathedral, and a Romanesque cathedral.
3. The Origin of a Native Expression
The native expression “Je ne vais pas y passer 107 ans” (I’m not going to spend 107 years there) designates an extended and arduous wait and would come from Notre Dame’s development web site, which began in 1163. It was not till the 1270s that a lot of the constructing was completed, and the district was now not affected by the hurt of the development web site.
4. The Sq. in Entrance of the Cathedral Hides Components of the Roman Metropolis
As for the sq. in entrance of the Cathedral, it was a lot smaller. You need to think about homes and slender streets in place of the present enormous sq.. Nonetheless right now, you possibly can see the structure of some streets and small chapels the place individuals might go to wish throughout the development of the Cathedral.
Till the 50’s the sq. was used as an open-air parking. That’s proper, you may drive and park your automotive in entrance of Notre Dame!
Within the ’60s, throughout the excavations to construct underground parking, Paris discovered components of Lutèce, the Roman metropolis! Head to the Crypte Archéologique to go to this a part of the Roman metropolis, with streets, public baths and a piece of the quays of the Seine River in Roman instances.
5. Notre Dame of Paris is NOT the Greatest Cathedral in France
Though it’s the most well-known Gothic constructing in France, Notre Dame de Paris shouldn’t be the biggest by way of measurement; The cathedrals of Amiens and Beauvais are bigger! Really, it’s mentioned that one might match three Notre Dame of Paris contained in the Amiens Cathedral.
6. A Colourful Cathedral
Within the Center Ages, the façade of Notre Dame of Paris was very totally different from the one we all know right now. Certainly, it was painted in brilliant colours!
If you wish to know what Notre Dame seemed like in Medieval instances, go to the Chapel of the Virgin in the back of the Church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais.
7. Notre Dame’s Doorways Cast by the Satan?
The doorways of Notre Dame Cathedral are legendary for the standard of labor and the finesse of the small print. To at the present time, trendy ironsmiths can’t work out how the writer managed to create such extraordinary and delicate work with the instruments of his day.
Based on legend, Biscornet, a younger and proficient ironworker, was commissioned by the Church to create the steel for the Cathedral’s doorways for its inauguration in 1345. The work was gigantic and the deadline was approaching so Biscornet began to emphasize.
Determined, Biscornet contacted the satan to assist him end in time. The satan agreed to assist him create the very best and most interesting hinges to adorn the picket doorways in trade for his soul.
In only a few days, Biscornet managed to finish these elegant locks. Nothing like this had ever been seen earlier than! He was discovered unconscious in his workshop.
On the inauguration, the doorways had been unattainable to open. The inhabitants started to whisper that the younger ironworker had made a pact with the satan, which might additionally clarify his absence from the ceremony. The bishop then ordered an exorcism ceremony: the hinges had been sprinkled with holy water, and oh miracle, the doorways opened! Biscornet is alleged to have handed away shortly afterward, however his masterpiece has fascinated the world for hundreds of years.
8. Lined by a Stunning Forest
The frameworks of the choir and nave of Notre Dame Cathedral had been among the many oldest in Paris (late twelfth – early thirteenth century). This roof was referred to as “the Forest” as a result of it represented the equal of 21 hectares of forest. Every beam got here from a unique tree in France.
9. The Largest Bell within the Cathedral is Referred to as Emmanuel
All of the bells of Notre Dame of Paris have a reputation. However one in every of them is extra necessary than the others: the Emmanuel bell. In-built 1683 and christened by his godfather, King Louis XIV, it weighs 13 tons! Emmanuel survived the French Revolution and rang to announce the Liberation of Paris in 1944.
10. House to Essential Relics
Within the central a part of the Cathedral, Notre Dame’s Treasure retains relics of inestimable worth. This unbelievable stock, made up of quite a few chalices, candlesticks, crucifixes, and richly ornamented Bibles, has as its centerpieces the Holy Relics: the Crown of Thorns, a chunk of the True Cross, and a holy Nail. King Saint Louis’ tunic, his jaw, and one in every of his ribs full the gathering.
The return of the Crown of Thorns in Paris in 1239 price King Louis IX half of France’s yearly finances! King Louis IX put France in debt for 50 years.
11. Theater of a Curious Royal Wedding ceremony
In 1572, Notre Dame hosted a curious royal marriage ceremony: Marguerite de Valois and Henri of Navarre, the longer term King Henri IV. A Protestant, Henri was not allowed to attend the mass of his marriage ceremony and needed to observe every little thing from the sq. in entrance of the Cathedral.
Different royal {couples} married in Notre Dame had been Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, and François II, son of King Henri II (1558). Élisabeth de France and Felipe II of Spain (1559) — this was a proxy marriage the place the Duke of Alba represented the Spanish King. Eugénie de Montijo and Emperor Napoléon III additionally married in Notre Dame (1853).
12. And a Place of Coronations
Though Reims Cathedral is the positioning of the coronation of the French kings, the Notre Dame Cathedral has additionally hosted two coronations.
In 1453, there was the coronation of King Henry VI of England in direction of the top of the Hundred Years’ Conflict. He didn’t reign in France as a result of Charles VII had already been topped King of France in 1429 in Reims.
In 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte was topped Emperor by Pope Pius VII. The ceremony was represented by the portray “The Coronation of Napoleon” by Louis David. Immediately, you possibly can see this unbelievable portray on the Musée du Louvre.
13. Notre Dame Turned the Temple of Cause
In 1793, throughout the French Revolution, the Paris Commune remodeled Notre Dame right into a Temple of Cause with a view to apply the cult of the Supreme Being. Badly broken the Cathedral was additionally used as a warehouse.
The picture above represents the Fête de la Raison inside Notre Dame Cathedral (yr 2 of the French Republic). The principle altar was lined by a mountain of sand.
14. Notre Dame’s Beheaded Kings
Above the portals is the Gallery of Kings, an ensemble of 28 statues representing the kings of Judah, ancestors of Mary. Throughout the French Revolution, these statues had been beheaded by the revolutionaries who noticed kings of France in them.
Throughout the restoration of the nineteenth century, the heads of the kings had been changed. Curiously, the eighth king counting from the left now seems like Viollet-le-Duc!
Years later, the unique heads had been present in a Parisian mansion and are displayed right now on the Musée de Cluny.
15. Victor Hugo Saved the Cathedral
Do you know that Notre Dame nearly disappeared within the nineteenth century? Devastated by the French Revolution, the Cathedral was so dilapidated that there was discuss of demolishing it. This was with out relying on Victor Hugo, who, along with his nice novel “Notre Dame de Paris” (1831) aroused the locals’ curiosity within the Cathedral.
“All Paris was unfold out at his toes, together with her thousand turrets, her undulating horizon, her river winding underneath the bridges, her stream of individuals flowing within the streets; with the cloud of smoke rising from her many chimneys, together with her chain of crested roofs urgent in ever-tightening coils spherical about Notre Dame” Victor Hugo – Notre Dame de Paris, Chapter 2
The author was heard: in 1845, an enormous restoration program was entrusted to the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
16. An Intruder Among the many Apostles
The Cathedral’s central spire, which collapsed throughout the 2019 hearth, was added by Viollet-le-Duc.
The statues of the 12 apostles surrounding the spire had been all made throughout the restoration by Viollet-Le-Duc within the model of the twelfth century. Viollet-le-Duc signed his work in a really authentic approach, depicting himself as Saint Thomas considering his work! For the report, Saint Thomas is the patron saint of architects.
The statues of the apostles had been retired to be restored only some days earlier than the fireplace; that was good luck for them!
17. Notre Dame’s Chimeras vs. Gargoyles
Typically confused, there’s a distinction of 500 years between Notre Dame’s gargoyles and chimeras!
Gargoyles are the Cathedral’s ends of gutters supposed to empty off rainwater they usually had been in-built Medieval instances. Crafted as demons and implausible creatures, they had been supposed to repel evil spirits who would attempt to enter the home of God.
Notre Dame’s chimeras didn’t exist in Medieval instances. They’re a pure creation of the architect Viollet-le-Duc to embellish the balconies of the gallery.
18. Level Zéro
Within the middle of the sq. in entrance of the Cathedral, there’s a concentric plate on which is written “Level Zéro.” This plate is taken into account the place from which all distances in France are calculated. When you step on it, you might be within the actual middle of town of Paris!
19. Rebuilt within the Gothic Type
After the fireplace in April 2019, the French President Macron acknowledged the catastrophe:
“Notre Dame is our historical past, our literature, a part of our psyche, the place of all our nice occasions, our epidemics, our wars, our liberations, the epicenter of our lives … So I solemnly say tonight: we’ll rebuild it collectively.”
A day after Macron’s speech, 880 million euros had been pledged to fund the Cathedral’s reconstruction. Regardless of many architects submitting varied designs, together with one with a swimming pool, the French authorities determined to revive the unique Medieval model.
20. The Compagnons du Devoir on the Entrance Line for the Reconstruction of Notre Dame
The Compagnons du Devoir (Companions of Obligation in English) is a secretive brotherhood of craftsmen arrange within the Center Ages. Based mostly in France, the Compagnons du Devoir are among the many world’s greatest craftspeople. For greater than 900 years, the compagnons’ coaching facilities have been transmitting French know-how in all craft trades via work-study coaching that begins within the third grade.
Educated through the years in an extended course of with rituals, secretive practices, and devotion to their trades, their initiations are held behind closed doorways, and inevitably, a reference to freemasonry springs to thoughts.
The Compagnons du Devoir have been key for the reconstruction of Notre Dame. They’ve been utilizing Medieval methods with trendy instruments.
21. A Non secular Lightning Rod
An emblematic piece of the Cathedral, the golden rooster, sits once more on the highest of the spire of Notre Dame. It’s a new golden rooster designed by Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of French historic monuments. The earlier one, believed to have been consumed by the fireplace, was discovered the day after, nevertheless it was too broken to be restored.
In Christianity, the rooster symbolizes the return of sunshine after dusk. The rooster can be one of many emblems of France.
Notre Dame’s rooster can be thought-about a non secular lightning rod, because it contained a chunk of the Saint Cross, a chunk of Saint-Denis, and a chunk of Sainte-Geneviève. Along with the relics, spared from the fireplace, the brand new golden rooster incorporates a sealed tube with the names of practically 2 000 individuals concerned within the reconstruction of the Cathedral.