Notre Dame building materials The church was constructed primarily of limestone, wood, iron, and lead. The limestone was Lutetian Limestone, the same type used to construct the Chateau de Versailles. Much of this stone came from the local area but some also came from farther afield, such as the Champagne region of France.
The wood that went into the construction of Notre Dame was bought in bulk from local farmers and cut down in the forests surrounding Paris. Iron tools were used to carve the nails that held the timber together during construction. And the lead used to coat the interior walls of the church was taken from old wine casks that were no longer useful for storing wine.
Notre Dame roof The roof of the nave is made of green copper with gold trim. It was designed by French architect Louis Le Vaux and built by French craftsmen between 1627 and 1667. The original tiles on the roof were replaced in 1715-1731 with black-and-white checkerboards of shale and granite. These were painted white in 1873 to make them look more like real tiles. In 2019, these were again replaced with new solar-powered tiles.
Notre Dame towers The north tower was built first. It was completed in 1163 and stands 33 meters (110 feet) high.
"The physical and chemical qualities of the stone vary across the cathedral." The stone needed to construct Notre-Dame was mined underground under Paris's fifth and twelfth arrondissements. It included limestone from all over the world, such as Italy, Germany, and Spain.
Students should know that most of the stone used in the construction of Notre Dame came from French sources. The main component of the stone is calcium carbonate (the same ingredient as human bone), so it can be recycled after burial.
Notre Dame has been called the largest building made without any wood in its structure. This is because it is built with limestone, which is a type of calcium carbonate. Limestone is a soft rock under Paris's city streets, and it was first discovered in 1838. Over time, miners dug deeper and deeper, until they reached granite, which is harder than limestone. At this point, the miners stopped digging and left the limestone underground.
Notre Dame was not built entirely with stone taken from the ground. Some materials were also used including bricks and mortar. The main component of these materials is calcium carbonate too. But most of the components of Notre Dame are natural stones, some of which are even found inside the cathedral. For example, there are 400 tons of flint inside the nave.
The cathedral is a landmark of French Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1163 under Parisian bishop Maurice de Sully. The location of Notre Dame in the heart of Paris was chosen because it was the site of a previous Roman temple. When construction ended in 1310, it was considered one of the most beautiful churches in Europe.
The original structure was built with wood, which deteriorated after only 20 years. Therefore, the current building is mostly made up of stone from the surrounding area. It includes some glass windows that were added in the 14th century.
Notre Dame attracted thousands of visitors per day during its glory days as a church and palace for various monarchs. However, this number is now much lower. Today, about 50,000 people visit the cathedral each month. That's why the government has proposed to make it a world heritage site.
The burning of the cathedral was the beginning of the end for France's oldest religious institution. In 1532, Charles I ordered that Notre Dame be converted into a Catholic church. But the king didn't have control over all parts of France, and many citizens protested by burning books in public places (an example being "On the Burning of Books" by Michel de Montaigne).
Built between 1163 and 1245 on the Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame de Paris is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world. During the last eight centuries, the cathedral building has been renovated and restored several times. The current look of the cathedral comes from these renovations and updates over the years.
Notre Dame du Paris is also called "the mother of churches in Paris" because it was one of the first large buildings built after the conquest of Paris by French King Charles VII in 1401. The original version of the cathedral was much smaller than it is today and was constructed over a period of more than three decades under the direction of four different architects. The final product was not completed until about 15 year after Charles' death in 1461.
Notre Dame is one of the most popular attractions in Paris and receives more than five million visitors each year. The cathedral grounds also contain other interesting structures such as an ancient prison where Victor Hugo was once held captive.
Notre Dame is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris and has appeared in many movies including Midnight in Paris, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and Les Misérables. It also played a role in the opening scene of the movie The Da Vinci Code.
Notre Dame is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.
Notre-Dame de Paris, usually known as Notre-Dame Cathedral, is a Parisian cathedral church. It is the most well-known Gothic cathedral of the Middle Ages, notable for its size, history, and architectural appeal. The cathedral has been described as France's largest religious monument and one of the greatest works of French architecture during the Late Middle Ages.
Notre-Dame was built over several periods starting in 1163 under Archbishop Abelard. The current building is mostly from the 13th century with some modifications over the years. It is dedicated to the French saints Denis and Adolphe.
The cathedral has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1979. It is also a popular place to be married or baptized, with more than 5,000 marriages and 1,500 baptisms taking place there each year.
Notre-Dame is open daily for worship at 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM, except on Sundays when it is closed. Visitors are welcome to enter but must leave bags at the cloakroom located near the main entrance. A small charge is made for this service.
Notre-Dame is not a museum; however, some objects inside the cathedral have historical significance that can be learned about through text panels inside the rooms they belong to. There are also temporary exhibits throughout the year showing work by contemporary artists.