Why Notre Dame has become an icon of global architecture

The flames that tore the roof and the central spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral broke in minutes part of the history of universal culture. This building represents one of the most important works of Gothic architecture. Its construction took almost two centuries and ended in 1345.

The construction of the cathedral required 182 years of work. Work began in 1163 at the request of Bishop Sully and the Pope Alejandro III. However, it was only completed in 1345. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and, therefore, her name means "our Lady".

Its structure has a Latin cross shape and is formed by a large body of five naves, to which are added the side chapels. The main nave has a total length of 127 meters and a width of 48 meters.. The transept (a transverse nave forming the short arm in a church) is particularly short: 14 meters wide and 48 meters long, that is to say the same measurement of the width of the nave.

While It is distinguished by its Gothic styleis in fact one of the masterpieces of this artistic and architectural time, several architects involved in the project, clarifying this factor the stylistic differences present in the building.

The cathedral was considerably modified at the end of the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV, mainly to the east, where tombs and stained glbades were destroyed to be replaced by elements more to the taste of the artistic style of the time, that is to say of Baroque. Thus, between 1630 and 1707, the guild of goldsmiths of Paris ordered a painting per year to artists such as Laurent de La Hyre or Sebastien Bourdon. 77 large-scale paintings were collected, which were then dispersed.

The most impressive images of the fire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

The building suffered attacks during the French revolutionary process. Some of its elements were destroyed and some of its treasures were looted. Also, in 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte he was crowned emperor at the cathedral.

The different architectural mixes that have crossed the history of Notre-Dame are reflected in one of the sentences issued today by the spokesperson of the place, André Finot, when he describes the consequences of the fire on the roof : "Everything is devouring. There will be nothing left of the structure, which dates from the 19th century on one side and the XIII on the other. "

The place chosen for its construction is also emblematic: it is the island of the City, where the Celts celebrated their cults in ancient times. It is also the place of the first church of Paris: St. Stephen's Basilica.

In addition to its rich history, it has become in contemporary times a must-see icon for all visitors to Paris. About 13 million people visit it each year. In fact It is one of the most important buildings in the city, perhaps more than the Eiffel Tower.

JPA CP