Notre-Dame Cathedral:
The French President recently praised the more than 1,000 craftspeople who helped rebuild Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral in what he called “the project of the century”, five and a-half years after fire gutted the Gothic masterpiece.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral is a cathedral church located in Paris, France.
- It is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages and is distinguished for its size, antiquity, and architectural interest.
- The Notre Dame Cathedral with its sculptures and stained-glass windows show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture.
- It was one of the very first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction took place throughout the Gothic period. It features all the Gothic styles, from early to rayonnant.
- The cathedral was initiated by Maurice de Sully, bishop of Paris.
- The foundation stone was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163, and the high altar was consecrated in 1189.
- The choir, the western facade, and the nave were completed by 1250, and porches, chapels, and other embellishments were added over the next 100 years.
- It has been the setting for many historical events, notably, the coronation of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804, the marriages of several Kings of France, including Francis II in 1558 and Henry IV of France in 1572.
- On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire engulfed Notre-Dame, destroying the roof and the iconic spire.
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
