"Between 1050 and 1350, eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches and thousands of smaller churches were built.” One of those eighty Cathedrals built would include the Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame sits on an island surrounded by the Seine River. Since the 6th century, this site has been known to be, “The cradle of Paris” meaning, that it was not only a place where the rich resided, but it was also considered to be the religious epicenter of France.
The founder of the Cathedral was Maurice de Sully (1120-1196), who was a reigning archbishop in France during 1160. Originally Notre Dame was built for a growing congregation, but as the production of the building continued, it turned into a display for a new form of architecture. This style was called Gothic. The construction of the Cathedral started in 1163 and ended in 1345, one hundred and eighty-two years after the first stone was put into place. The reason is because the design of the building was enlarged during construction. The final result was a 128 meter long church with two towers reaching 69 meters high. However, during the French Revolution, many of the external and internal elements of the Cathedral were demolished. It was not until the 19th century when Victor Hugo made the Parisians realize what a gem was hiding within in their own border. The passion that Hugo had about refurbishing the Cathedral spread like wild fire. Victor Hugo instilled a new appreciate in monuments and buildings that the French had overlooked because of the invasive war. The restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral lasted approximately twenty years and was led by a local artist, Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879). Controversy arose when Viollet-le-Duc applied architectural modifications, such as creating a spire during the first restoration process. Finally, in 1991 and 2001 the cathedral was restored for a second and third time; carefully persevering the historic architecture.
Because Gothic architecture was relatively new, during the 12th -14th century this style exploded in France. The Gothic Movement of the Middle Ages was characterized by lightness and brightness while giving a sense of space. This is due to high ceilings and simple ornamentation. Other key features of Gothic architecture are vaulted ceilings, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. From personal experience, all of these features can be noticed when gazing at the Cathedral's exterior and interior. The Cathedral of Notre Dame is a prime example of true Gothic architecture. Although Notre Dame is not coffered in gold or painted with elaborate frescoes, it offers a new perspective on the way in which architectural design and style can influence a new Era of art.
SOURCES:
*http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/notredame.htm
**http://www.francemonthly.com/n/1205/
***http://www.historylines.net/history/french/notre_dame.html
*http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/notredame.htm
**http://www.francemonthly.com/n/1205/
***http://www.historylines.net/history/french/notre_dame.html