The demolition of the cathedral and other events that Notre Dame has experienced since the 14th century

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in Paris. The whole world watched as Notre Dame Cathedral burned. The building lost its spire, clock and roof. Thanks to the efforts of the firefighters, the interior of the cathedral was preserved. Not even the chairs were burned. And while the French government is discussing how best to restore the cultural heritage, and the famous French millionaire has already donated 100 million euros for this, we decided to recall what Notre Dame de Paris looked like in the 19th century and what events saw its walls.

1. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the cathedral was the tallest building in Paris

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

When the architects planned to build the cathedral 850 years ago, their plans could not be called anything other than ambitious. The bell towers were 69 meters high, and the spire rose 90 meters above the city. It is worth noting that before the construction of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dais de Paris was considered the tallest building in Paris.

2. Identical towers - a distinctive feature of the cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

The cathedral towers survived the fire. It should be noted that exactly the same bell towers are the hallmarks of Notre Dame de Paris, because there are two of them, not one (like other medieval church buildings)

3. Not a shrine, but a storage room

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

During the Revolution, the treasures of Notre Dame de Paris were partially looted, the heads of the statues of the biblical kings were thrown into the Seine, and the premises of the cathedral were used as a warehouse for food products.

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

4. Coronation of Napoleon within the walls of the cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

When Napoleon Bonaparte wished to have his coronation in the cathedral in 1804, the building looked depressing. Tapestries hid cracks in the walls and covered huge holes. It should be noted that the Cité Island, on which the architectural monument stands, was considered an island of the poor at the beginning of the 19th century. The local nobility practically did not appear there, which contributed to the decline of Notre Dame. After the coronation, the newly-made emperor promised to return the cathedral to its former glory, but he never did it.

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

5. Victor Hugo's novel prevented the demolition of the building

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

In the early 1830s, the question arose about the demolition of Notre Dame Cathedral. The building was considered fire hazardous, and no one was going to work on its restoration. Many believe that the fate of the historical monument was decided by Victor Hugo's novel Notre Dame Cathedral. The work was a resounding success, and people flocked to Paris to see with their own eyes the place where the events of the novel “unfolded”.

Local authorities reconsidered their opinion on the demolition and decided to rebuild Notre Dame. By the way, the spire was re-erected at the same time.

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.

Notre Dame de Paris. XIX century.