Notre Dame Cathedral

News: Notre Dame Cathedral, one of France’s most iconic landmarks, recently reopened after five years of restoration following the 2019 fire.

About Notre Dame Cathedral

• It is a medieval Catholic cathedral located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, France.
• The cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
• It is regarded as one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture.
• It contains important religious and historical artifacts, including the Crown of Thorns, believed to have been worn by Jesus during his crucifixion.
• It also houses France’s largest musical instrument, The Great Organ.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Cathedral

• Notre-Dame is thought to have been built on the site of a former Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter.
• The construction of Notre-Dame began in 1160 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was mostly completed by 1260.
• During the French Revolution, its spiritual role changed significantly, as it was converted into the “Temple of Reason” and later the “Temple of the Supreme Being.”
• When Napoleon Bonaparte became ruler of France in 1801, he selected Notre-Dame for his coronation and vowed to restore it.

Architecture – Notre-Dame remains one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture , featuring soaring spires, intricate stained glass windows, and impressive flying buttresses.

French architecture in India

• French architecture in India is a blend of Indian and French styles.
• The most distinctive feature of French architecture in India is the use of columns to support the roof and divide the building into sections.
• Key elements of the Indo-French architectural style include dormers, shutter windows, rounded towers or gables, sloping roofs, and chimneys.
• French Architects like Le Corbusier laid the foundations of modern urban planning in India.
• Examples of Indo-French Architecture Chandernagor, West Bengal– Governor’s House, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the Church of St. Francis Xavier.