The Construction And Restoration Of Notre Dame Cathedral
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Construction And Restoration Of Notre Dame Cathedral

A brief history of the construction and many restorations of Notre Dame Cathedral

2167
The Construction And Restoration Of Notre Dame Cathedral
Moral International Groups

Notre Dame – meaning “our lady” – is a medieval gothic cathedral in Paris, France. Construction began on the building in the 12 th century; however, it was not completed until 300 years later. Because of the length of time it took to complete the cathedral, certain sections of it draw heavily upon styles other than French Gothic, such as Renaissance and Naturalist. Notre Dame was also one of the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress – an arched structure that extends from the upper portion of a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall.

Notre Dame has ten bells, all of which have names – Emmanuel, Marie, Gabriel, Anne Geneviève, Denis, Marcel, Étienne, Benoît-Joseph, Maurice, and Jean-Marie. Emmanuel is the largest and has been in the cathedral since 1681. The nine others have been replaced for various reasons over the years, most recently in January of 2013.

The cathedral has had to be restored on several occasions. During the French Revolution, many of the cathedral’s valuables were stolen or destroyed. Statues portraying biblical kings were mistaken for French kings and beheaded, and the 13th-century spire was torn down. An extensive restoration began in 1845 and lasted for 25 years.

More of the cathedral was damaged during World War II. Several of the stained glass windows were also shattered by stray bullets. After the war ended, the windows were replaced, but the bible scenes that had previously been depicted on the panes were exchanged for geometric patterns.

A new program of maintenance and restoration was started in 1991. This was intended to last for only ten years but has continued long past its original cut-off date. The primary focus has been to clean and restore old statues and sculptures. Also, in 2014, they upgraded much of the lighting.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Who doesn't love ice cream? People from all over the world enjoy the frozen dessert, but different countries have their own twists on the classic treat.

Keep Reading... Show less

As any other person on this planet, it sometimes can be hard to find the good in things. However, as I have always tried my hardest to find happiness in any and every moment and just generally always try to find the best in every situation, I have realized that your own happiness is much more important than people often think. Finding the good in any situation can help you to find happiness in some of the simplest and unexpected places.

Keep Reading... Show less
Christmas

Remember The True Meaning of Christmas

“Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you?”

5092

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. Christmastime is a celebration, but have we forgotten what we are supposed to be celebrating? There is a reason the holiday is called Christmas . Not presentmas. Not Santamas. Not Swiftmas. Christmas.

boy standing in front of man wearing santa claus costume Photo by __ drz __ on Unsplash



What many people forget is that there is no Christmas without Christ . Not only is this a time to spend with your family and loved ones, it is a time to reflect on the blessings we have gotten from Jesus. After all, it is His birthday.


Keep Reading... Show less

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore my dog . I am constantly talking about my love for her. I attribute many of my dog's amazing qualities to her breed. She is a purebred Golden Retriever, and because of this I am a self-proclaimed expert on why these are the best pets a family could have. Here are 11 reasons why Goldens are the undisputed best dog breed in the world.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Boyfriend's Christmas Wishlist: 23 Best Gift Ideas for Her

Here are the gifts I would like to ask my boyfriend for to make this season unforgettable.

90400

Recently, an article on Total Sorority Move called 23 Things My Boyfriend Better Not Get Me For Christmas , was going around on social media. I hope the author of this was kidding or using digital sarcasm, but I am still repulsed and shocked by the lack of appreciation throughout this article. I would like to represent the girlfriends out there who disagree with her standpoint -- the girlfriends who would be more than happy to receive any of these gifts from their boyfriends.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments