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.

Innovations

Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first gothic cathedrals, and was built throughout the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, giving them a warm human look that was lacking from earlier Romanesque designs.

Related Topics:
Stained glass - Naturalism - Romanesque

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notre Dame de Paris was the first building in the world to use the flying buttress. The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. However, after the construction began, cracks began to show in the structure from too much stress. The buttresses were added to prevent further deterioration.

Related Topics:
Flying buttress - Choir - Nave

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~