The devastating fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, which tore through the famous landmark on April 15 2019, did its damage while the world watched on. The church, on the Ile de la Cite at the heart of the French capital, is an icon of the City of Light. Millions have visited to see its beauty and history for themselves. And when it came under threat from the flames, a global audience held its breath hoping to see the historic building saved.
Those stepping through its famous arched doors get a sense of its place in the story of France itself. Since it opened its door 850 years ago, it has been the scene of some of the best known moments in the country's history. Victor Hugo's famous novel, now known as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, added to the romance and legend of the church.
It has been an icon of French life for eight centuries with Parisians gathering there in times of trouble and celebration. Here's a look at the history and beauty of Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral which captivated the world.
Sully decided Paris needed a magnificent cathedral, built in the fashionable Gothic style, and work got under way in 1163 after Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. Much of the building was completed in Sully's lifetime although work on the famous western facade, with the iconic towers, didn't start until after his death.
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The Grande Dame of Paris
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Notre Dame welcomes around 13 million visitors every year. The building they come to see covers an area of 4,800 square metres while the wood used to build it came from 1300 oaks or more than 21 hecatres of forest.
The roof, much of which collapsed during the fire, was 43 metres high while the cathedral is a total of 128 metres long.
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Peaceful Perfection
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The church has a vibrant religious life and holds 5 services on weekdays and 7 on Sundays. The peaceful prayers are accompanied by music from its famous organs.
The cathedral has also been the site of some of the most famous royal events in history. It was here that Mary, Queen of Scots married her first husband, the future King Francois II, in 1558 while Napoleon and Josephine were crowned as French Emperor and Empress at Notre-Dame in 1804.
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A French Icon
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The towers of Notre Dame are one of the most famous sights in the world. Both climb 68 metres into the sky and visitors trek up 387 steps to their tops for some of the best views of Paris.
They were begun in 1200 when construction on the western facade got under way. The north tower, briefly threatened by the flames of the April 2019 blaze, was completed in 1240. The southern tower was finished ten years later.
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The Rooftops of Paris
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The roof of Notre-Dame, now lost in the fire, is as famous as its walls. It is topped by statues, turned green by the weather, which gaze down upon the city as well as the famous gargoyles which nestle amongst its stonework.
More recently, the roof became the home for a beehive which was installed in 2013.
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April in Paris
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Notre-Dame is home to some of the most celebrated stained glass windows ever made. One of its famous rose windows featured in one of the final images of the Cathedral before the fire, taken just hours before the flames took hold.
The north rose window, completed in 1250, contained more original glass than any of the others in the church. The south window, given to Notre-Dame by King Louis IX of France who was later canonised, had been largely restored over the preceding centuries after the original was damaged several times.
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The Bells of Notre Dame
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The famous bells of Notre Dame ring out from its towers. The best known is Emmanuel, the bourdon, which has rung from the south tower for centuries. When the cathedral's bells were melted down during the French Revolution, Emmanuel was spared and has continued to peel across Paris ever since.
It is accompanied by a smaller bell, Marie, in the south tower. Like the eight bells in the north tower, it's a new instrument, presented to Notre Dame in 2013 to mark the 850th anniversary of it opening its doors. And these wouldn't make Quasimodo deaf. While the old bells they replaced were notoriously out of tune, the new instruments are all in perfect harmony with each other.
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Treasures of the Church
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Priceless treasures are contained within the walls of Notre Dame and firefighters battled to save many of them as the flames took hold.
Among the items brought to safety is the Crown of Thorns, purported to be a relic of the wreath placed on Christ's head at the Crucifixion. It was brought to the Cathedral by Louis IX, later Saint Louis, in the 13th century and is now being kept safe at the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
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Forever Paris
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Notre Dame is a focal point for many Parisians who showed their love of the building by thronging the surrounding streets while the fire ravaged, singing and hoping that the church would be saved.
In times of tragedy, as in November 2015 following terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of 130 people, Paris gathers at Notre Dame to share grief and seek solace. At happier times, it is a focal point for celebrations, a constant reminder of the spirit of the French capital.
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The Insta Door of Paris
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The Portal of the Last Judgement is one of the most photographed parts of Paris. The famous doorway was completed between 1220 and 1230 and features the twelve apostles as well as a central statue of Christ.
Tens of millions of people have walked through this main door in the western facade. It was cleaned up and restored in the 19th century.
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Saved by the Hunchback
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The huge interest in the cathedral brought about by the publication, in 1831, of The Hunchback of Notre Dame led to plans to restore the church. The contest to take on the project was won by a thirty year old architect, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who built the famous spire on the cathedral, replicating part of the original medival design.
He also added statues of the apostles around the new spire. The model of St. Thomas is said to bear an uncanny resemblance to the architect himself.
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A New Chapter for Notre Dame
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Just hours after the fire was brought under control, the full extent of the damage could be seen. Notre Dame has lost its famous spire and will need years of work to bring it back to its former glory. But the great Paris landmark still stands. It's been restored and rebuilt several times in its 850 year history and now a new generation will help bring it back to its full beauty again.
