Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our Lady of Paris", meaning the church in Paris dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus), often known simply as Notre Dame in English, is a gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris, France, with its main entrance to the west. While a major tourist destination, it is still used as a Roman Catholic cathedral (archbishopric of Paris). Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered the finest example of French gothic architecture.

Alterations, Vandalism and Restorations

During the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV, at the end of the 17th century, the cathedral underwent major alterations as part of an ongoing attempt to modernise cathedrals throughout Europe. Tombs and stained glass windows were destroyed. The North and South Rose Windows were spared this fate, however.

Related Topics:
Louis XIV - Louis XV - 17th century

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In 1548, rioting Huguenots damaged features of the cathedral following the Council of Trent.

Related Topics:
1548 - Huguenots - Council of Trent

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In 1793 during the French Revolution, many of the cathedral's treasures were destroyed or stolen. Several sculptures were smashed and destroyed, and for a time Lady Liberty replaced the Virgin Mary on several altars. The cathedral's great bells avoided being melted down, but the cathedral was used as a warehouse for the storage of food.

Related Topics:
1793 - French Revolution - Lady Liberty

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A restoration program was initiated in 1845, overseen by architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The restoration lasted 23 years and included the construction of a flèche (a type of spire).

Related Topics:
1845 - Eugène Viollet-le-Duc - Flèche - Spire

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In 1871, a civil uprising leading to the establishment of the short-lived Paris Commune nearly set fire to the cathedral, and some records suggest that a mount of chairs within the cathedral were set alight.

Related Topics:
1871 - Paris Commune

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In 1991, a major program of maintenance and restoration was initiated, which was intended to last 10 years but is still in progress as of 2005, the cleaning and restoration of old sculptures being an exceedingly delicate matter.

Related Topics:
1991 - As of 2005

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