Notre Dame De Paris Research Paper

The history of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris has been filled with everlasting vibrant significance. It has had a life comparable to that of a Christian’s- tough, relatable, and prosperous. First commissioned by Bishop Maurice de sully in 1163, the building phase became a one-hundred and eighty yearlong pilgrimage. The bones of the building were not completed until 1345. Even then the project was not truly finished, as more has since been added to the edifice, while encountering historical events. Overall, the construction has been deeply enriched in French tradition and history.

Architecturally the cathedral is the epitome of French Gothic design. Containing opulent factors such as, arches, flying buttresses, the famous towers, colonettes,

The cathedral has lived through the Middle Ages, the French Revolution, and major wars in Europe. Surviving the French Revolution has been the biggest task for Notre Dame. During the Revolution much of the cathedral was destroyed. This includes the twenty-eight statues of biblical monarchs, in the King’s Gallery, being destroyed. The revolutionist beheaded the statues, with some remains being found in the 1970’s. They also replaced statues of Mary to statues of Lady Liberty, and dedicated the building to the cult of Reason, then to the cult of Supreme Being. The desecration went as far as making the cathedral into food storage. Napoleon Bonaparte resurrected it within his reign, with Viollet-le-Duc starting restorations in mid nineteenth century. Notre dame has also seen the beatification of saints and crowning of prominent leaders. In 1431 Henry VI of England was crowned in the cathedral, and later saw the crowning of Napoleon Bonaparte as emperor in 1804. As for beatification, St. Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 by Pope Pius X inside the building. Another important task Notre Dame has been given is the housing of twenty-nine important Catholic relics. In 1239 Saint Louis of France acquired the relics from the Venetians. The king dressed in normal garments, and presented the relics with his brother to Sainte Chappelle. The relics now reside within the Cathedral Treasury. Most significantly