Notre-Dame on the River Seine
Sadly, the cathedral looks nothing like in my photo at the moment. On 15 April 2019 at 18:50 local time, the cathedral caught fire, causing the collapse of the spire and the destruction of two-thirds the oak roof. Fifty-two acres of timber was used on the inside. The wooden beams were actually nicknamed ‘the forest’ because of so much wood.
Notre-Dame de Paris was built on a small island called the Île de la Cité, in the middle of the River Seine. Construction began in 1163, during the reign of King Louis VII, and was largely completed in 1345, though certain works were carried out in the following 100 years. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Henry VI of England was made king of France inside Notre-Dame in 1431.
Despite the appreciation that current Parisians hold for Notre-Dame, it hasn’t always been held in such high esteem. During the French Revolution, the Cathedral suffered lots of damage. In 1793 the cathedral was rededicated to the Cult of Reason, and then to the Cult of the Supreme Being. During this time, many of the treasures of the cathedral were either destroyed or plundered. The twenty-eight statues of biblical kings located at the west façade, mistaken for statues of French kings, were therefore beheaded! The cathedral came to be used as a warehouse for the storage of food and other non-religious purposes. Apparently it was in such a state of total disrepair that it was close to the point of being demolished when Napoleon Bonaparte, himself a product of the revolution, saw the merit in restoring Notre-Dame so he could be crowned emperor there in 1804.
Despite the terrible damage the building has sustained. reports are that the stone structure is intact and there is no doubt the cathedral will be restored to its former glory in due course.
Notre-Dame on the River Seine
Sadly, the cathedral looks nothing like in my photo at the moment. On 15 April 2019 at 18:50 local time, the cathedral caught fire, causing the collapse of the spire and the destruction of two-thirds the oak roof. Fifty-two acres of timber was used on the inside. The wooden beams were actually nicknamed ‘the forest’ because of so much wood.
Notre-Dame de Paris was built on a small island called the Île de la Cité, in the middle of the River Seine. Construction began in 1163, during the reign of King Louis VII, and was largely completed in 1345, though certain works were carried out in the following 100 years. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Henry VI of England was made king of France inside Notre-Dame in 1431.
Despite the appreciation that current Parisians hold for Notre-Dame, it hasn’t always been held in such high esteem. During the French Revolution, the Cathedral suffered lots of damage. In 1793 the cathedral was rededicated to the Cult of Reason, and then to the Cult of the Supreme Being. During this time, many of the treasures of the cathedral were either destroyed or plundered. The twenty-eight statues of biblical kings located at the west façade, mistaken for statues of French kings, were therefore beheaded! The cathedral came to be used as a warehouse for the storage of food and other non-religious purposes. Apparently it was in such a state of total disrepair that it was close to the point of being demolished when Napoleon Bonaparte, himself a product of the revolution, saw the merit in restoring Notre-Dame so he could be crowned emperor there in 1804.
Despite the terrible damage the building has sustained. reports are that the stone structure is intact and there is no doubt the cathedral will be restored to its former glory in due course.