City of Paris
Notre Dame
Building of the Notre Dame was started by Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163. The Cathedral was constructed in the new gothic style and was designed to reflect Paris's status as the capital of France. It was the first cathedral built on such a monumental scale and became the prototype for future French cathedrals.
The cathedral was finally completed in about 1345. During its construction the plans
were radically altered resulting in a much larger building than that originally planed.
The result is an incredibly impressive building, measuring 130 metres long with two
69 meter high towers. The spire was added in the 19th century by Viollet-
The Notre Dame has several large rose windows, the northern 13th century window is the most impressive. It is 21 meters high. The spectacular eastern buttresses are 15m wide. The west side features three wide portals, the gallery of Kings, and the famous gargoyles.
Work begun on the nave and was completed in about 1208, this was followed by the
west front and towers. A series of chapels were added to the nave during this period,
Transept crossings were built in 1250 to 67 by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil,
and the apse during the period 1296 to 1330. The six part vaulting ribs and the thin
elements articulating the walls are typically Early Gothic. These modifications radically
transformed the appearance of the interior. The small clerestory windows typical
of the Early Gothic style were enlarged downward and filled with High Gothic tracery.
The enlargement caused the removal of the unusual triforium.
The Notre Dame has had an eventful history over the centuries. It was here that Napoleon, wishing to emphasize his supremacy over both state and church, crowned himself emperor, and then crowned his wife Josephine as his empress.
Originally the interior had the four-
