Back Notre-Dame-katedraal Afrikaans Seu de Notre-Dame de París AN كاتدرائية نوتردام دو باري Arabic نوتردام دى بارى ARZ নটৰ-ডেমৰ কেথেড্ৰেল Assamese Catedral de Notre-Dame de París AST Paris Notr-Dam kilsəsi Azerbaijani پاریس نوتردام کلیساسی AZB Париждағы Нотр-Дам соборы Bashkir Notre Dame de Paris BAN
| Notre-Dame de Paris | |
|---|---|
 South façade and the nave of Notre-Dame in 2017, two years before the fire | |
 | |
| 48°51′11″N 2°21′00″E / 48.85306°N 2.35000°E | |
| Location | Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul-II, Paris |
| Country | France |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Website | Official website  |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Replaced the Cathedral of Etienne |
| Status | Cathedral, minor basilica |
| Founded | 24 March 1163 to 25 April 1163 (laying of the cornerstone) |
| Founder(s) | Maurice de Sully |
| Consecrated | 19 May 1182 (high altar) |
| Relics held | Crown of thorns, a nail from the True Cross, and a sliver of the True Cross |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Reopened 7 December 2024 |
| Architectural type | Gothic |
| Style | French Gothic |
| Years built | 1163–1345 |
| Groundbreaking | 1163 |
| Completed | 1345 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 128 m (420 ft) |
| Width | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Nave height | 35 metres (115 ft)[1] |
| Number of towers | 2 |
| Tower height | 69 m (226 ft) |
| Number of spires | 1 (the third, completed 16 December 2023)[2] |
| Spire height | 96 m (315 ft) |
| Materials | Limestone and marble |
| Bells | 10 (bronze) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Paris |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Laurent Ulrich |
| Rector | Olivier Ribadeau Dumas |
| Laity | |
| Director of music | Sylvain Dieudonné[3] |
| Organist(s) | Olivier Latry (since 1985); Vincent Dubois (since 2016); Thierry Escaich (since 2024); Thibault Fajoles (assistant organist, since 2024) |
| Criteria | I, II, IV[4] |
| Designated | 1991 |
| Part of | Paris, Banks of the Seine |
| Reference no. | 600 |
| Official name | Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris |
| Type | Cathédrale |
| Designated | 1862[5] |
| Reference no. | PA00086250 |
Notre-Dame de Paris (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris French: [nɔtʁ(ə) dam də paʁi] ⓘ; meaning "Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris"), often referred to simply as Notre-Dame,[a][b] is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the River Seine), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary ("Our Lady"), is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Several attributes set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style, including its pioneering use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration.[9] Notre-Dame is also exceptional for its three pipe organs (one historic) and its immense church bells.[10]
The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries. In the 1790s, during the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive desecration; much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. In the 19th century, the cathedral hosted the coronation of Napoleon and the funerals of many of the French Republic's presidents. The 1831 publication of Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris (English title: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) inspired interest which led to restoration between 1844 and 1864, supervised by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. On 26 August 1944, the Liberation of Paris from German occupation was celebrated in Notre-Dame with the singing of the Magnificat. Beginning in 1963, the cathedral's façade was cleaned of soot and grime. Another cleaning and restoration project was carried out between 1991 and 2000.[11] A fire in April 2019 caused serious damage, closing the cathedral for repairs; it reopened in December 2024.[12][13]
It is a widely recognised symbol of both the city of Paris and the French nation. In 1805, it was awarded honorary status as a minor basilica. As the cathedral of the archdiocese of Paris, Notre-Dame contains the cathedra or seat of the archbishop of Paris (currently Laurent Ulrich). In the early 21st century, about 12 million people visited Notre-Dame annually, making it the most visited monument in Paris.[14]
Over time, the cathedral has gradually been stripped of many decorations and artworks. It still contains Gothic, Baroque, and 19th-century sculptures, 17th- and early 18th-century altarpieces, and some of the most important relics in Christendom, including the crown of thorns, and a sliver and nail from the True Cross.
- ^ Watkin, David (1986). A History of Western Architecture. Barrie and Jenkins. p. 134. ISBN 0-7126-1279-3.
- ^ Libert, Lucien (16 December 2023). "Notre-Dame rooster back on Paris cathedral's spire as renovation enters final stage". Reuters. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Musique Sacrée à Notre-Dame de Paris". msndp. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Paris, Banks of the Seine". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Mérimée database 1993
- ^ Collins Dictionary: "Notre Dame".
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary: "Notre Dame".
- ^ New Oxford American Dictionary: "Notre Dame".
- ^ Ducher 1988, pp. 46–62.
- ^ Chavis, Jason. "Facts on the Notre Dame Cathedral in France". Travel Tips – USA Today. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Historique de la construction" (in French). Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as heads of state look on – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Notre-Dame Cathedral website, 11 December 2024
- ^ "Paris facts". Paris Digest. 2018. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
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