European Classic Church (Western Europe 7)
Reason for selection: The most famous cathedral in Paris, part of the world cultural heritage "On the Banks of the Seine in Paris".
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris. The church became famous for its 1831 novel Notre Dame de Paris by the French writer Victor Hugo. Notre Dame de Paris was built in 1163 and completed in 1345, and the construction lasted more than 180 years.
Notre Dame Cathedral.
The statue at the top of the cathedral's gable is known as the "Notre-Dame-de-Paris".
On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the entire building was severely damaged. French President Emmanuel Macron claimed: "Notre Dame, engulfed in flames, is the emotion of the whole country. He said he would rebuild Notre Dame within 5 years.
This article is about the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris before the fire.
April 15, 2019 is a sad day in Paris. The main tower of Notre Dame de Paris was destroyed in a fire (infographic).
Unfortunately, because it was destroyed by fire, people could not see the true face of Notre Dame cathedral for several years. Even if it is restored in the future, it is not its original appearance. We'll only be able to browse through these historical photos.
Unlike Britain and Germany, France is the predominantly Catholic country.
The façade of Notre Dame is 69 meters high and is divided into three floors.
The one on the left is the Virgin'sportal, depicting the resurrection of the Virgin, surrounded by saints and angels.
Statue of the Virgin on the doorpost.
The man with the head on the second right is Saint Denis, the patron saint of France.
Saint Denis (also known as Saint Denis), Christian saint and martyr, patron saint of France and Paris. Around 250 AD, he was killed while the Roman Emperor Decius was persecuting Christianity. Legend has it that Saint-Denis was beheaded in montmartre, north of Paris, but he picked up his head, walked six kilometers in his arms, and preached all the way. When he fell, he was buried by believers. Later generations established the Church of Saint Denis in Paris.
The beheading of St. Denis (infographic).
The arch in the middle describes Jesus' "last judgment" in heaven.
The arch on the right is the oldest statue of the church (1165-1175 AD).
The statue on this arch depicts St. Anglican. Anne' story, and the baptism of Archbishop Bishop Sully for Louis VII(who ordered the construction of Notre Dame in the 12th century).
Above the arch is the Gallery of Kings (Galerie des Rois), a statue of 28 kings from the Old Testament period.
The statues were all rebuilt, and the original 28 Old Testament statues were mistaken for French kings during the French Revolution of 1793, so they were destroyed and demolished, and were not found until 1977 (in the Musee de Cluny museum). Later, the statues were re-engraved and erected in place.
Between the windows on either side of the "Rose Window" are statues of Adam and Eve. During World War II, the Parisians took it apart and hid it.
"Rose Window".
Built between 1220 and 1225 (restored in the 18th century), this "rose window" is 9 meters in diameter and is dedicated to the Virgin and Child in the center, with angels on both sides.
▲ There are no spires in the towers on the left and right. One of the towers hangs a large bell, the one that Quasimodo struck in the book Notre Dame de Paris.
Above the atrium of the cathedral is a minaret up to 90 meters high. Destroyed by a fire that occurred on April 15, 2019.
It is said that the cross and his crown used in Jesus' execution are sealed in the ball under this cross (believe it or not). Unfortunately, the minaret played a "chimney effect" during the fire on April 15, 2019.
The hall of Notre Dame Cathedral can accommodate up to 9,000 people.
The statues on the left and right of the cross are King Louis XIII and Louis XIV, respectively, and the two men look at the central statue of the Virgin Mary, who lies on the lap of the Virgin, who is very sad.
Statue of Joan of Arc in Notre Dame de Paris.
The French national heroine Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years' War was betrayed and burned at the stake. In 1455, the French Church rehabilitated joan of Arc and erected a statue of Joan of Arc here, after which Joan of Arc was revered as "Joan of Arc".
Notre Dame de Paris celebrates its 850th anniversary at Mass.
The back of Notre Dame cathedral.
There is also a white church in Paris that is more "eye-catching", that is, the Church of the Sacred Heart, which sits on montmartre.
The Church of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre.
The mention of Montmartre is reminiscent of the last days of the Paris Commune.
Statue of King Louis IX of France (1214-1270 AD) on the left side of the Church of the Sacred Heart.
King Louis IX of France is revered as "Saint Louis", the ninth king of the Capetian dynasty of France (reigned 1226-1270 AD), he was regarded as a model among medieval French and even European monarchs, and was nicknamed "Perfect Monster".
Statue of Joan of Arc on the right side of the Church of the Sacred Heart (1412-1431 AD), a french national hero.
The reason for the construction of the Church of the Sacred Heart was related to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the Paris Commune of 1871. Construction began in 1876 and was completed in 1919. The Parliament declares that the building is a public building, owned by the Municipality of Paris and not by the Church, so that the Church of the Sacred Heart cannot be listed as a canon, but is only briefly introduced here.
The next article will introduce the Cathedral of Saint-Gatien in the Loire Valley of France.