The History of Notre-Dame - Notre-Dame de Paris

The history of the Cathedral is closely linked to the history of France. Built in the 12th century, modified in the 18th century, and restored in the 19th century, it is the symbol of Christian worship in Paris through the centuries.

In the 4th century, with the advent of Clovis, Paris became the Christian “capital” of the Frankish kingdom. It was then that a first cathedral, Saint-Étienne, was built in the 6th century. The city’s growth began in the 12th century after the Norman invasions. The city prospered, becoming a place of artistic and intellectual exchange, with colleges and a university of philosophy and theology. This marks the beginning of the history of Notre-Dame.

At the same time, the crusades to Jerusalem and pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela moved thousands of faithful along the roads. The Île de la Cité was a crucial crossing point over the Seine. Consequently, the faithful flocked to the Cité district. They generated commercial activity and offerings for worship. In this context, Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, undertook the construction of a new and vast cathedral to accommodate the faithful. In the 13th century, the population of Paris doubled.

Saint Louis brought back the relics of Christ’s Passion from Jerusalem. They arrived in Paris in 1239, where the king carried them in procession to Notre-Dame. These relics were later kept in the Sainte-Chapelle until the Revolution and joined the treasury of Notre-Dame in 1806.

The cathedral expanded and changed to become a model of religious architecture. During the Renaissance, tastes evolved, and its appeal waned. In the 17th century, through the vow of Louis XIII, the kingdom was placed under the protection of the Virgin and promised a new high altar for the cathedral, which was realized by his son, Louis XIV. Significant renovations took place in the 18th century. Damaged by weather and the Revolution, the cathedral threatened to collapse in the 19th century. Boosted by a resurgence of popularity thanks to Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” the state decided on restoration work in the 19th century. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the cathedral was a major center of Christian worship and the most visited monument in France in 2018.

Following the fire on April 15, 2019, which destroyed the medieval framework and the spire of the cathedral, a major restoration project is underway to reopen it for worship and visitors on December 8, 2024.