The history of the Cathedral is closely linked to the history of France. Built in the 12th century, modified in the 18th century, and then restored in the 19th century, it symbolizes Christian worship in Paris over the centuries.
In the 4th century, with the rise of Clovis, Paris became the Christian "capital" of the Frankish kingdom. It was then that the first Saint Stephen’s Cathedral (Saint-Étienne) was built in the 6th century. The city began to flourish in the 12th century, following the Norman invasions. Paris prospered, becoming a center of artistic and intellectual exchange, with the establishment of colleges and a university dedicated to philosophy and theology. This is how the story of Notre-Dame begins.
At the same time, the Crusades to Jerusalem and pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela brought thousands of pilgrims along the roads. The Île de la Cité became an essential crossing point over the Seine. As a result, the faithful flocked to the Cité district. Their presence generated commercial activity and offerings for worship. In this context, Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, initiated the construction of a new and vast cathedral to accommodate the faithful. By the 13th century, the population of Paris had doubled.
Notre Dame of Paris
Saint Louis brought back the relics of Christ’s Passion from Jerusalem. They arrived in Paris in 1239, where the king carried them in a grand procession into Notre-Dame. These relics were later kept in the Sainte-Chapelle until the French Revolution, and in 1806, they were moved to the treasury of Notre-Dame.
The cathedral expanded and was modified over time, becoming a model of religious architecture. During the Renaissance, changing tastes led to a decline in its popularity. In the 17th century, following a vow by Louis XIII, the kingdom was placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary, and a new high altar was promised for the cathedral—an altar that would be commissioned by his son, Louis XIV. Major renovations took place in the 18th century. Damaged by weather and the Revolution, the cathedral was at risk of collapse by the 19th century.
Thanks to renewed public interest following the publication of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, the state launched a major restoration project in the 19th century. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the cathedral is a major site of Christian worship and was the most visited monument in France in 2018.
After the fire of April 15, 2019, which destroyed the cathedral’s medieval roof structure and spire, a major restoration project began. The goal is to reopen Notre-Dame for worship and visitors on December 8, 2024.
