Notre-Dame de Paris facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Notre-Dame de Paris
South façade and the nave of Notre-Dame in 2017, two years before the fire
48°51′11″N 2°20′59″E / 48.8530°N 2.3498°E / 48.8530; 2.3498
Location	Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul-II, Paris
Country	France
Denomination	Catholic Church
History
Former name(s)	Replaced the Cathedral of Etienne
Status	Cathedral, minor basilica
Founded	24 March 1163 to 25 April 1163 (laying of the cornerstone)
Founder(s)	Maurice de Sully
Consecrated	19 May 1182 (high altar)
Relics held	Crown of thorns, a nail from the True Cross, and a sliver of the True Cross
Architecture
Functional status	Reopened 8 December 2024
Architectural type	Gothic
Style	French Gothic
Years built	1163–1345
Groundbreaking	1163; 862 years ago (1163)
Completed	1345; 680 years ago (1345)
Specifications
Length	128 m (420 ft)
Width	48 m (157 ft)
Nave height	35 metres (115 ft)
Number of towers	2
Tower height	69 m (226 ft)
Number of spires	1 (the third, completed 16 December 2023)
Spire height	96 m (315 ft)
Materials	Limestone
Bells	10 (bronze)
Administration
Archdiocese	Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris (meaning "Our Lady of Paris"), often called simply Notre-Dame, is a famous Catholic cathedral in Paris, France. It stands on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River. This amazing building is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is a top example of French Gothic architecture. It's known for its unique rib vaults and flying buttresses, huge colorful rose windows, and many detailed sculptural decorations. Notre-Dame also has three pipe organs and huge church bells.

Building the cathedral started in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully. Most of it was finished by 1260, but changes were made over many centuries. In the 1790s, during the French Revolution, Notre-Dame was badly damaged. Many religious statues were broken or destroyed. In the 19th century, the cathedral saw important events like the coronation of Napoleon and funerals for French presidents. A novel by Victor Hugo called Notre-Dame de Paris (known in English as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) helped spark interest in restoring it. This led to a big restoration from 1844 to 1864, led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. On August 26, 1944, the Liberation of Paris from German occupation was celebrated here. The cathedral was cleaned in 1963 and again from 1991 to 2000. Sadly, a fire in April 2019 caused serious damage. But after five years of hard work, the cathedral reopened on December 7, 2024.

Notre-Dame is a well-known symbol of Paris and France. In 1805, it became a minor basilica, a special church status. As the main church of the archdiocese of Paris, it holds the seat of the archbishop of Paris. Before the fire, about 12 million people visited Notre-Dame every year, making it the most visited monument in Paris. The cathedral still holds important relics like the Crown of thorns and pieces of the True Cross.

Key Moments in Notre-Dame's History

1163 – Bishop Maurice de Sully starts building the new cathedral.
c. 1200 – The main part of the church, the nave, is mostly finished.
c. 1210–1220 – Work begins on the famous towers.
1235–1245 – Small chapels are built between the buttresses.
1250–1270 – The transepts (the arms of the cross-shaped church) and large rose windows are completed.
1699 – Major redecoration of the inside begins.
1793 – During the French Revolution, the cathedral is used for non-religious purposes. Many statues are damaged.
1804 – Napoleon crowns himself Emperor at Notre-Dame.
1844–1864 – A huge restoration project takes place, led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
1944 – General Charles de Gaulle celebrates the Liberation of Paris with a special Mass.
1963 – The cathedral's outside is cleaned, removing centuries of dirt.
2019 – On April 15, a fire destroys much of the roof and the spire.
2021 – Reconstruction work officially begins.
2024 – The cathedral reopens on December 7–8.

Building Notre-Dame: A Long History

Outline of the primitive Cathedral of Notre-Dame in 1150. The Cathedral of Saint Étienne was located to the west, where today's parvis is.

Before Christianity came to France, people believe a Roman temple to Jupiter stood where Notre-Dame is now. Evidence for this includes the Pillar of the Boatmen, found under the cathedral in 1710. Later, in the 4th or 5th century, a large early Christian church called the Cathedral of Saint Étienne was built here.

By 1160, the Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, decided to build a new, much bigger church. He tore down the old cathedral and reused its materials. Sully chose the new Gothic style, which was new and exciting at the time.

Construction Begins

Records show that building Notre-Dame started between March 24 and April 25, 1163. King Louis VII and Pope Alexander III were there when the first stone was laid. The first part built was the choir (the area around the altar). It was finished by 1177.

The main part of the church, the nave, was built next. By 1190, the front of the cathedral (the façade) was started. Heraclius of Caesarea even called for the Third Crusade from the still-unfinished cathedral in 1185.

King Louis IX (also known as Saint Louis) placed important relics of Christ's passion in the cathedral. These included the Crown of thorns, a nail from the Cross, and a piece of the Cross. He bought them at a very high price.

Transepts (the parts that make the church look like a cross) were added to bring more light into the center. After Bishop Maurice de Sully died in 1196, his successor, Eudes de Sully, finished the transepts and continued work on the nave. By the time Eudes de Sully died in 1208, the western front was mostly built. Between 1225 and 1250, the upper part of the nave and the two towers on the west front were built.

Cross-section of the double supporting arches and buttresses of the nave, drawn by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

A big change in the 13th century was the invention of the flying buttress. Before these, the heavy roof pushed outwards and downwards on the walls. Flying buttresses moved this weight to supports outside the building. This meant the walls could be taller and thinner, allowing for much larger windows. Historian Andrew Tallon, using laser scans, believes the buttresses were part of the original design. This is because the upper part of the building hasn't moved at all in 800 years. The first buttresses were later replaced by even stronger ones in the 14th century.

Plan of the cathedral made by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.
Early six-part rib vaults of the nave.
The massive buttresses that support the nave.
Later flying buttresses of the apse of Notre-Dame (14th century).

From the 15th to 18th Century

On December 16, 1431, the young Henry VI of England, only ten years old, was crowned King of France in Notre-Dame. This was during the Hundred Years' War.

During the Renaissance, the Gothic style became less popular. The inside of Notre-Dame was covered with tapestries. In 1548, some Protestant rioters damaged statues, seeing them as wrong.

The Parisian goldsmiths' guild used to donate a large painting to the cathedral every year on May 1st. These were called the grands mays. Many of these paintings were later moved to museums. Today, thirteen of them hang in Notre-Dame, though they were damaged by water in the 2019 fire and are being repaired.

In 1756, the church leaders decided the inside was too dark. They removed most of the medieval stained glass windows, except for the large rose windows, and replaced them with clear glass.

Henry VI of England's coronation in Notre-Dame as King of France.
An illustration of Notre-Dame from around 1450.
A ceremony in the choir of Notre-Dame in 1669.
The western front of Notre-Dame in 1699.

French Revolution and Napoleon's Era

After the French Revolution began in 1789, Notre-Dame became public property. In 1793, it was even used as a "Temple of Reason." During this time, many of its treasures were destroyed or stolen. The twenty-eight statues of biblical kings on the west front were beheaded. People thought they were statues of French kings. Many of these heads were found in 1977 and are now in a museum. The cathedral was also used as a warehouse for a while.

In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte gave Notre-Dame back to the Catholic Church. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French inside Notre-Dame. The building's outside was painted white, and the inside was decorated in a popular new style.

The "Cult of Reason" celebrated at Notre-Dame during the French Revolution.
Arrival of Napoleon at Notre-Dame for his coronation in 1804.
The coronation of Napoleon in 1804, as painted by Jacques-Louis David.

19th-Century Restoration Efforts

After the Napoleonic Wars, Notre-Dame was in such bad shape that some officials thought about tearing it down. Victor Hugo wrote his famous novel Notre-Dame de Paris in 1831 to help save it. The book was a huge hit and made people care about the cathedral's decay. In 1844, King Louis Philippe I ordered the church to be restored.

Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc were chosen to lead the restoration. Viollet-le-Duc oversaw a large team of artists and craftsmen. He remade or added decorations to match the original Gothic style. One of his additions was a taller, more detailed spire to replace the old one that had been removed. The restoration also included bronze statues of the twelve Apostles and mythical creatures called chimères.

During the Paris Commune in 1871, the cathedral was almost burned down. But the people decided not to, because it would also burn the hospital next door.

The western front of Notre-Dame in 1841, before the big restoration.
Proposed doorway decoration by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
The southern front of Notre-Dame at the start of restoration work in 1847.
Model of the spire and wooden roof beams made for Viollet-le-Duc.
The western front of Notre-Dame in the early 1860s, near the end of the restoration.

Notre-Dame in the 20th Century

Façade of Notre-Dame in the 1930s

During the liberation of Paris in August 1944, the cathedral got some minor damage from stray bullets. On August 26, a special Mass was held to celebrate Paris being freed from the Germans.

In 1963, for the cathedral's 800th anniversary, the outside was cleaned. This removed centuries of soot and dirt, bringing back its original off-white color.

In the late 1980s, the stone outside had worn down due to air pollution. A ten-year renovation started in 1991 to replace damaged parts and clean the exterior. The great pipe organ also got a computer system. The west face was cleaned and restored for the year 2000 celebrations.

The 2019 Fire and Rebuilding

On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the cathedral. It destroyed the spire and the wooden roof structure. The fire started in the attic. An alarm sounded, but there was a delay in calling the fire brigade. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire was very big.

The spire collapsed at 7:50 PM, bringing down 750 tons of stone and lead. Firefighters bravely focused on saving the north tower, fearing the bells might fall and destroy the whole cathedral. They climbed narrow, burning stairways and fought the fire with low water pressure. By 9:45 PM, they had the fire under control.

The main structure of the cathedral, including the façade, towers, walls, buttresses, and stained-glass windows, was saved. The stone ceiling (vaulting) had some holes but was mostly intact. The Great Organ, with over 8,000 pipes, was also saved but got water damage. About 500 firefighters helped.

For the first time in over 200 years, no Christmas Mass was held in 2019. The cathedral choir performed in December 2020, with only eight members due to COVID-19 pandemic rules.

The 2019 fire destroyed Notre-Dame's wooden roof and spire.
The spire on fire before it collapsed.
Animation showing the south façade before and after the fire.
The area directly under the crossing and two other parts of the ceiling collapsed.
In red, the parts that were destroyed.

Stabilizing and Rebuilding

Right after the fire, President Macron promised Notre-Dame would be restored within five years. The first step was to remove 250–300 tons of melted metal from the scaffolding, which could have caused more damage. This was finished in November 2020. Wooden supports were added to keep the flying buttresses stable.

In February 2021, oak trees were chosen from French forests to replace the destroyed roof and spire timbers. These trees, hundreds of years old, needed to dry for 12 to 18 months.

In September 2021, officials announced that the cathedral was fully secured, and reconstruction would begin soon.

New Discoveries

In 2022, during digging before the new spire was built, archaeologists found several statues and tombs under the cathedral. One amazing find was a 14th-century lead sarcophagus (a stone coffin) about 65 feet below the church floor. Inside, they found parts of a skeleton. They also found pieces of a 13th-century choir screen that had been destroyed long ago. In 2023, thousands of metal staples were found, some from the 1160s. This showed that Notre-Dame was one of the first Gothic cathedrals to use iron to hold stones together.

Ongoing stabilization of Notre-Dame in February 2020.
Stabilization of Notre-Dame and removal of debris in February 2020.
Front view of Notre-Dame in January 2023.
Southwest corner of Notre-Dame in September 2023.

Reopening the Cathedral

The cathedral reopened on December 7, 2024. A special ceremony was led by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich. Many world leaders and important people attended, including US President-elect Donald Trump and Britain's Prince William.

Towers and the Spire

Towers on west façade (1220–1250).
The gallery of chimeras pictured in 1910.
The 19th-century spire.
The rooster reliquary at the top of the spire.
The spire from above, in 2013.
Statue of Thomas the Apostle, with features of restorer Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

The two towers on the west front are 69 metres (226 ft) tall. The south tower was built first (1220-1240), then the north tower (1235-1250). The north tower is slightly bigger. The cathedral's main bells are inside these towers. Visitors could climb 387 steps in the south tower to see views and old artworks.

The cathedral's spire was above the transept. The first spire was built in the 13th century but was removed in 1786 because it was old and damaged. During the 19th-century restoration, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc rebuilt it using oak covered with lead. This new spire weighed 750 tons.

A rooster weathervane sits on top of the spire. It's a symbol of France. This rooster held three relics: a piece of the Crown of Thorns and relics of Saint Denis and Saint Genevieve, who are patron saints of Paris. These were placed there in 1935 to protect the church. The rooster, with the relics still inside, was found in the rubble after the 2019 fire.

The new spire was put in place on December 16, 2023. A new gilded rooster sculpture, designed by architect Philippe Villeneuve, was also installed. It contains the same relics and the names of two thousand people who helped rebuild the cathedral.

Stories in Stone: The "Poor People's Book"

Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame were like a "poor people's book." They were covered with sculptures that showed Bible stories. Most people couldn't read back then, so these pictures taught them. All the sculptures on the outside were originally painted and gilded (covered in gold).

Illustration of the Last Judgment, central portal.
The martyr Saint Denis, holding his head.
Archangel Michael and Satan weighing souls during the Last Judgment.
A strix on the west façade.
Gargoyles were the rainspouts of the cathedral.
Chimera on the façade.
Allegory of alchemy, central portal.
Ecclesia and Synagoga, statues on each side of the west façade.

The carvings above the central door on the west front show the Last Judgment. It depicts sinners going to hell and good Christians going to heaven. The right door shows the crowning of the Virgin Mary. The left door shows the lives of saints important to Paris, like Saint Anne.

The outside of Gothic churches also had sculptures of grotesques or monsters. These included gargoyles and chimeras. These figures were part of the visual message for people who couldn't read. They symbolized evil and danger for those who didn't follow church teachings.

The gargoyles, added around 1240, had a practical job. They were the rain spouts for the cathedral. They directed rainwater away from the walls and windows to protect the stone. Rain ran from the roof into lead gutters, down the flying buttresses, and out of the gargoyles' mouths.

Some sculptures also showed medieval science and philosophy. The central door has carvings with symbols from alchemy, an old practice of trying to turn metals into gold. The central pillar has a statue of a woman holding two books and a ladder with seven steps. This symbolizes the seven steps alchemists followed.

Many of the statues, especially the grotesques, were removed or destroyed during the French Revolution. They were replaced with new ones in the Gothic style by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc during the 19th-century restoration.

Stunning Stained Glass: The Rose Windows

The earliest rose window, on the west façade (about 1225).
The west rose window (about 1225).
North rose window (about 1250).
North rose window including lower 18 vertical windows.

Notre-Dame's stained glass windows, especially the three huge rose windows, are very famous. The west rose window, above the main doors, was the first and smallest. It's 9.6 metres (31 ft) wide and was made around 1225. The glass in this window was replaced in the 19th century.

The two transept windows are larger and have more glass. This was possible because the new buttress system made the walls thinner and stronger. The north rose was made around 1250, and the south rose around 1260. The south rose is especially known for its size and beauty. It's 12.9 metres (42 ft) wide and was a gift from King Louis IX.

The south rose has 94 round pictures (medallions) arranged in four circles. They show scenes from the life of Christ and people from his time. The inner circle has twelve medallions of the twelve apostles. Other circles show saints important to Paris. The oldest glass in the window, from the late 12th century, shows scenes from the New Testament.

The south rose window has had a tough history. It was damaged in 1543 and again in the French Revolution of 1830. Rioters destroyed many panes. Viollet-le-Duc completely rebuilt the window in 1861. He turned it slightly to make it straight and replaced broken glass with new pieces in the same style. Today, it has both medieval and 19th-century glass.

The 2019 fire left the three great medieval rose windows mostly intact, but with some damage. One rose window had to be taken apart because it was unstable.

Burials and Crypts

See also (related category): Burials at Notre-Dame de Paris

Unlike some other French cathedrals, Notre-Dame didn't originally have a crypt (an underground burial chamber). In medieval times, people were buried directly in the church floor or in above-ground sarcophagi. Important clergy and some royals were buried near the altar.

In 1699, many tombs in the choir were disturbed during a big renovation. The remains were reburied in a common tomb. In 1711, a small crypt was dug in the choir for archbishops. During this digging, the 1st-century Pillar of the Boatmen was found. More crypts were added later for other church officials.

In 1858, the choir crypt was made larger. Many medieval tombs were found again during this project. The nave crypt was also rediscovered in 1863. Many other tombs are located in the chapels.

Eudes de Sully was the first bishop buried in Notre-Dame.
The tomb of bishop Matifort (died 1304) is the only surviving medieval funerary sculpture.
Burial vault under the choir of Notre-Dame, around 1746.
The tomb of Archbishop Affre (1793–1848).

The Great Organ

The great organ

One of the earliest organs at Notre-Dame was built in 1403. It was rebuilt many times over 300 years. In the mid-19th century, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll built a new organ, using some old pipes. It was dedicated in 1868.

The organ has been updated several times since then. Between 1990 and 1992, it was greatly improved. From 2012 to 2014, it was restored and cleaned again. The current organ has 115 stops and more than 8,000 pipes.

During the 2019 fire, the great organ itself was not badly damaged, mostly just getting dusty. However, it will need a thorough cleaning.

Bells of Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame has ten bells. The two largest, Emmanuel and Marie, are in the south tower. The other eight are in the north tower. The bells ring for church activities and for important national and international events, like the end of World War I or the September 11 attacks.

The bells are made of bronze for good sound and to last a long time. In medieval times, they were often made right at the cathedral site. The bishop of Paris would hold a ceremony to bless and baptize the bells, giving them names.

The bells are hung inside wooden structures called belfries, which are set back from the stone walls. This helps absorb the strong forces when the bells swing, protecting the stone. The current belfries are from the 19th-century restoration.

Before the French Revolution, bells often broke and were recast. During the Revolution, most of Notre-Dame's bells were removed and melted down. In the 19th-century restoration, four new bells were made for the north tower. These were replaced in 2012 with nine new ones for the cathedral's 850th anniversary.

Circular utility door in the ceiling below the north tower for raising bells.
The bourdon Emmanuel, Notre-Dame's largest and oldest bell, cast in 1686.
1767 illustration of bell parts and Notre-Dame's original south belfry.
1854 illustration showing the 1850 belfry, which is still there today.
The four 19th-century bells that were replaced in 2012.
Nine new bells displayed in the nave in February 2013.
The second bourdon Marie mounted in the south belfry.

Cathedral Clock

One of four clock faces of Notre-Dame's 19th-century clock (right).

The first clocks at Notre-Dame were water clocks. These told the hours, which were marked by bells. In the 14th century, Notre-Dame had two water clocks.

In 1766, a mechanical clock was given to the cathedral. It was moved to the north tower in the early 1800s. During Viollet-le-Duc's restoration in the 19th century, a new clock was made in 1867. This clock was located under the central spire and controlled four clock faces on the transept roofs. This clock was destroyed by the 2019 fire.

After the fire, an almost identical 1867 clock movement was found in storage at another church in Paris. This discovery was called "almost a miracle." It is hoped this clock can help create a new one for Notre-Dame.

Who Owns Notre-Dame?

Before the French Revolution, Notre-Dame belonged to the archbishop of Paris and the Catholic Church. But on November 2, 1789, it became property of the French state. Under an agreement in 1801, the Church got to use the cathedral again, but they didn't own it.

Laws from 1833 and 1838 made it clear that the French government pays for the upkeep of cathedrals. This was confirmed in a 1905 law that separated Church and State. This law says the Catholic Church has the right to use Notre-Dame for religious purposes forever. Notre-Dame is one of 70 historic churches in France with this status. The archdiocese pays for staff, security, heating, and cleaning, and makes sure the cathedral is open for visitors for free. The archdiocese does not get money from the French state.

Images for kids

During reconstruction following the fire
Notre-Dame at the end of the 19th century
An 1853 photo of Henri Le Secq next to Le Stryge
19th-century vestments
A wide angle view of Notre-Dame's western façade
Notre-Dame's façade showing the Portal of the Virgin, Portal of the Last Judgment, and Portal of St-Anne
A 2010 view of Notre-Dame from Tour Montparnasse
A wide angle view of Notre-Dame's western façade
Virgin of Paris, 14th century. The Statue of Virgin and Child inside Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre-Dame's high altar with the kneeling statues of Louis XIII and Louis XIV
South rose window of Notre-Dame
Flying buttresses of Notre-Dame
Memorial tablet to the British Empire dead of the First World War
Tympanum of the Last Judgment
Statue of Joan of Arc in Notre-Dame's interior
Close look of the details on the Tympanum of the Last Judgment (2016)
Façade of Notre-Dame
French road system's Point Zéro spot on the ground in front of Notre-Dame (since 1924)