About
Notre-Dame de Paris, built between 1163 and 1345, is one of the greatest examples of French Gothic architecture. Its flying buttresses, rose windows, and gargoyles have defined the Parisian skyline for 800 years. Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' (1831) saved it from demolition by reviving public interest.
On April 15, 2019, a catastrophic fire destroyed the spire and much of the roof. The world watched in horror as it burned. Within 24 hours, €1 billion was pledged for reconstruction. Restoration, aiming for completion by 2024, is using medieval techniques alongside cutting-edge digital modeling from laser scans made before the fire.
# Top 10 Notre-Dame Cathedral facts
- 1Notre-Dame took 182 years to complete — from 1163 to 1345
- 2Victor Hugo's 1831 novel saved it from planned demolition by inspiring a restoration campaign
- 3€1 billion was pledged for its reconstruction within 24 hours of the 2019 fire
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Notre-Dame took 182 years to complete — from 1163 to 1345
- ◆Victor Hugo's 1831 novel saved it from planned demolition by inspiring a restoration campaign
- ◆€1 billion was pledged for its reconstruction within 24 hours of the 2019 fire
More in Places4 related
7
Places
Great Wall of China
The greatest architectural achievement in human history — 21,000 km of stone and history.
Interest91/100
33
Places
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Built 4,500 years ago — still one of the largest structures ever constructed.
Interest85/100
38
Places
Taj Mahal
A monument to love — the world's most beautiful building took 22 years to build.
Interest84/100
17
Places
Machu Picchu
The lost city of the Incas — a masterpiece of engineering above the clouds.
Interest82/100