A Building in Peril
In 1801, the Concordat restored Roman Catholic worship in the churches, and the cathedral regained its diocese. However, the revolutionary destructions put the cathedral in peril, threatening its collapse.
In 1804, during Napoleon’s coronation, the very dilapidated building was adorned with a portico of wood, cardboard, and stucco, along with silk and velvet draperies. The walls were also whitewashed.
The Influence of Victor Hugo
During the revolution of 1830, rioters destroyed the stained glass windows and damaged the Cathedral by setting fire to the neighboring archbishop’s palace. Following these destructions, the Parisian authorities considered the complete demolition of Notre-Dame. However, in 1831, the publication of “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” by Victor Hugo achieved great success and sparked a national movement for its preservation.
In 1842, the Minister of Justice and Worship decided on a major restoration project for the building. Two years later, after a competition, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Jean-Baptiste Lassus were selected to lead the work.
The Works of Viollet-le-Duc
In 1845, the State allocated a budget of 2 million francs, which proved insufficient. However, an additional endowment of 3 million francs allowed the resumption of work after an eight-year interruption. After the death of Lassus, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc continued alone as the project’s director. From his office in the south tower, he oversaw the project and coordinated various trades (artisans, stonemasons, sculptors, glassmakers, goldsmiths, carpenters). This restoration by Viollet-le-Duc included:
- Replacement of worn stones
- Creation of around a hundred statues on the façade, inspired by the cathedrals of Amiens, Laon, Chartres, and Reims
- Restoration of the portals and the Gallery of Kings to their 13th-century appearance
- Restoration of the southern rose window and the sacristy
- Pastiches of high windows in the medieval style
- Remodeling of the choir while preserving the Vow of Louis XIII
Viollet-le-Duc’s personal interpretation of medieval art and the creation of the large spire and chimeras faced sharp criticism. However, his perseverance restored a certain renown to medieval architecture.
Notre-Dame Classified as a Historic Monument
As early as 1810, following the revolutionary destruction of monuments, prefects compiled a list of monuments to be preserved, reflecting a spirit of heritage inventory. Then, in 1837, Prosper Mérimée created the Commission of Historic Monuments to list or classify the most remarkable buildings. The city of Paris created its first list in 1862, including Notre-Dame.
In the 20th Century
The Law of Separation of Church and State in 1905 confirmed the State as the owner of the Cathedral. During this period, new works were carried out. Jacques Le Chevallier had twelve high windows and twelve tribune rose windows fitted with colored stained glass, replacing the 18th-century white glass. In 1989, Jean Touret created a new, more contemporary altar, placed at the crossing of the transept. Then, in the 1990s, a stone treatment campaign protected the Cathedral from pollution and restored its ivory color.
Finally, in 1991, UNESCO designated the Cathedral as a World Heritage site. In 2018, the building was the most visited tourist site in France, with approximately 13 million visitors per year, averaging 30,000 visitors per day.
