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Notre-Dame: A history of Paris's beloved cathedral | Notre-Dame: A history of Paris's beloved cathedral |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Paris's beloved Notre-Dame cathedral has been one of the French capital's most famous landmarks since it was built 850 years ago. | Paris's beloved Notre-Dame cathedral has been one of the French capital's most famous landmarks since it was built 850 years ago. |
Notre-Dame, which translates in English as "Our Lady", has played a role in key moments of history and captured the imagination of people around the world, drawing an estimated 13 million visitors a year. | |
A major symbol of the Catholic faith, the cathedral also contains revered relics, including the Crown of Thorns, which is said to have been worn by Jesus before the Crucifixion. | |
But on Monday, the main spire and roof of the building collapsed in a huge fire. People across the globe are now mourning the damage. | |
How did it begin? | How did it begin? |
Construction of the Notre-Dame in Paris's Île de la Cité began under the reign of Louis VII in 1163. | Construction of the Notre-Dame in Paris's Île de la Cité began under the reign of Louis VII in 1163. |
The first stone of the gothic building was laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III. | The first stone of the gothic building was laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III. |
But construction wasn't completed until 1345. | But construction wasn't completed until 1345. |
Historic highlights | Historic highlights |
Since its completion, the building has been the scene of numerous historic events. | Since its completion, the building has been the scene of numerous historic events. |
In 1431, England's Henry VI was crowned king of France inside the cathedral. | In 1431, England's Henry VI was crowned king of France inside the cathedral. |
It was also the scene of Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as emperor in 1804. | It was also the scene of Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as emperor in 1804. |
Joan of Arc was beatified in the cathedral and world leaders attended memorial services for former French presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand there. | Joan of Arc was beatified in the cathedral and world leaders attended memorial services for former French presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand there. |
Has it suffered previous damage? | Has it suffered previous damage? |
The building was badly damaged during the French Revolution in the 1790s, when mobs and revolutionaries looted the interior. | The building was badly damaged during the French Revolution in the 1790s, when mobs and revolutionaries looted the interior. |
During this time, statues of biblical figures there were beheaded. | During this time, statues of biblical figures there were beheaded. |
Historian Robert Tombs told the BBC that during the Paris Commune revolution in 1871 some "radical anti-clericals" tried to set the building on fire but were stopped by local people. | |
"As there would have been no effective firefighting had the building caught fire, we might expect it to have been damaged even worse than now," he said. | |
The cathedral also survived the two world wars largely unscathed. | |
A place in literature | A place in literature |
Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame cemented the cathedral's place in popular culture. | Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame cemented the cathedral's place in popular culture. |
The book, which has since been turned into a Disney film, highlighted the poor condition the cathedral was in. This helped to prompt major restoration works in the mid-19th Century. | The book, which has since been turned into a Disney film, highlighted the poor condition the cathedral was in. This helped to prompt major restoration works in the mid-19th Century. |