Notre Dam Survived French Revolution, Saw Napoleon & Joan Of Arc, Let's Revisit Its 850-YO History

The fire at Cathedral of Notre-Dame has left the 800 year-old relic and perhaps one of the brightest anecdotes in France¡¯s history tarnished. Notre-Dame, which literally translates for ¡°Our Lady¡± referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of most famous landmarks in France and draws about 13 million visitors a year from all over the world.

The monumental structure is the seat of the archbishop of Paris.

The moment #NotreDame¡¯s spire fell pic.twitter.com/XUcr6Iob0b

¡ª Patrick Galey (@patrickgaley) April 15, 2019

Here is a little history behind one of most iconic building known for French Gothic architecture.

Construction began in 1163

The construction of the cathedral started on an island called the Ile de la Cite in the middle of the Seine in 116 during the rule of King Louis VII. This medieval Gothic architecture marvel took more than 200 years and the construction was completed in 1345.

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During the French Revolution in 1789, it was damaged and was left unattended. In 1831, Victor Hugo came out with a novel ¡°Notre-Dame of Paris,¡± which was also published in English with title ¡°The Hunchback of Notre Dame,¡± and the novelist told the world about the monument¡¯s dilapidated condition.

The book helped the neglected building rising to the significance and overhauls were done from 1844 to 1864. The architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc resurrected the cathedral.

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Became witness to historical events

Though England and France fought many wars but Notre-Dame became witness to a historical event when Henry VI of England became King of France and his coronation was held in Notre-Dame in 1431.

One of the France¡¯s most successful military commander Napolean Bonaparte also helped saving the cathedral and was crowned emperor here in 1804.

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Joan of Arc who had helped the French battle the English was burned at the stake and 1909, Pope Pius X had beatified him in the cathedral.

Renovation work was going

The fire broke at the cathedral on Monday evening and the building was under extensive renovation. Mass is till offered on Sundays. The New York Times in 2017 had reported that the monument needs to renovation as weather and time have weathered the structure of the building. The renovation cost of the monument was expected to be around $180 million.

It has seen fire earlier as well

AFP

Yes, the present structure which caught fire yesterday was erected after a fire destroyed an earlier church here. The fire hit the building again in 13th century and a building was redone between 1230 and 1240, the details of it are in the book The Engineering of Medieval Cathedral.