Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris ~ The Past and the Future

On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out, and the building many of us know as the sanctuary for the gypsy Esmeralda was ablaze!  The Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris was in flames. It was an unbelievable sight to see!  The world was rocked and shocked by the fire that destroyed this iconic structure.  The fact that the fire happened during the week before Easter Sunday made the event even more poignant for a lot of people.  However, within 24 hours after hearing the news reports, people and businesses from various parts of the globe offered to make monetary contributions for its restoration.  Let’s celebrate the past and the future of this historic monument.

#1 Thank the Lord for digital technology.

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Four years ago, an art historian used lasers to digitally map Notre Dame Cathedral. His work could help save it ... https://t.co/f7D2tf7e4g #architecture #gothic #iconic #technologynews #arthistory pic.twitter.com/pjDo1sBuUl

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 17, 2019

#2 The Cathedral de Notre Dame Took Almost a Century to Build

(Link to archived copy. The Virily site shut down.) 

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Notre dame by txatxy ~ Built between 1163 and 1245 on the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world. https://t.co/zPbDyvfUfy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 15, 2020

#3 Kings of France Were Crowned in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

(Link to archived copy. The Virily site shut down.) 

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Most famous places to visit in Paris ~ Notre Dame Cathedral
The Gothic Cathedral was completed in the middle of the 14th century. It is an architectural monument, where kings of France were crowned. https://t.co/nTZIXp3Gf9 via @virilycom #iconic #architecture pic.twitter.com/OjuKplWwfd

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 17, 2019

#4 The Iconic Cathedral of Notre Dame Has a Sister.

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Notre-Dame de Paris (reopened Dec 2024) and Amiens Cathedral are masterpieces of French Gothic architecture. Notre-Dame de Paris is iconic for its central location, history, and restoration, while Amiens is the largest, with twice the interior volume. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Construction: Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163; Amiens began later in 1220.
• Love, Europe I. “The Cathedral of Notre-Dame d’Amiens (Our Lady of Amiens). France.” YouTube, 18 Jun. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHvOpbXhtfk&t=5s.

#5 The basilica in Montreal is comparable to the cathedral in Paris.

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The Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal is a stunning Gothic Revival masterpiece located in Old Montreal, Quebec, renowned for its dramatic, deeply colored interior, intricate wood carvings, and celestial blue ceiling with gold stars. Completed in 1829, it is a premier Canadian heritage site that hosts the famous AURA light show and welcomes millions of visitors annually.


#6 The Fire is History

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Major Fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris; Main Structure "Saved and Preserved" https://t.co/qO3x65nykc via @archdaily

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 18, 2019

#7 The Spire Went Down, but the Spire Will Go Up Again

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France Announces Competition to Redesign the Spire of Notre Dame https://t.co/yY4DHTtB4K via @archdaily

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 18, 2019

#8 The Cathedral de Notre Dame will be restored.

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The future of the Cathedral de Notre Dame looks anything but bleak.  It will be restored and will still be one of the most visited sites in Paris, France.  So if it was on your bucket list of Places to Visit, keep it on the list!

Donations Have Been Made to Help Rebuild Paris' Notre Dame

As if the fire wasn't bad enough.  In April 2020, the world was in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic.

A year after the blaze, Notre Dame's rebuild is on hold due to #coronavirus https://t.co/Jgj4RQcRIc via @flipboard #CathedralOfNotreDame #ParisFrance

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 15, 2020

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The cathedral reopened in December 2024. Visit the official website.

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BOOKS ADAPTED TO FILM: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (with Apologies)