View source for Notre-Dame de Paris

 {{Short description|Cathedral in Paris, France, built 1163–1345}}
{{About|the French cathedral}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox church
| denomination     = [[Catholic Church]]
| sui iuris church = [[Latin Church]]
| image            = Notre-Dame de Paris, 4 October 2017.jpg
| caption          = South façade and the nave of Notre-Dame in 2017, two years before the [[Notre-Dame fire|fire]]. It was generally restored to this outward appearance by 2024.
| coordinates      = {{Coord|48|51|11|N|2|21|00|E|region:FR-75C_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| country          = France
| location         = [[Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul-II]], [[Paris]]
| website          = {{Official website}}
| founded date     = 24 March 1163 to 25 April 1163 (laying of the cornerstone)
| founder          = [[Maurice de Sully]]
| consecrated date = 19 May 1182 (high altar)
| relics           = [[Crown of thorns]], a nail from the [[True Cross]], and a sliver of the True Cross
| status           = [[Cathedral]], [[minor basilica]]
| functional status = Reopened 7 December 2024
| architectural type = [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]
| style            = [[French Gothic architecture|French Gothic]]
| years built      = 1163–1345
| groundbreaking   = {{start date and age|df=yes|1163}}
| completed date   = {{start date and age|df=yes|1345}}
| length           = {{cvt|128|m}}
| width            = {{cvt|48|m}}
| tower quantity   = 2
| height nave      = {{convert|35|m|ft}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Watkin |first=David |title=A History of Western Architecture |publisher=Barrie and Jenkins |year=1986 |page=134 |isbn=0-7126-1279-3 }}</ref>
| tower height     = {{cvt|69|m}}
| spire quantity   = 1 (the third, completed 16 December 2023)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Libert |first1=Lucien |title=Notre-Dame rooster back on Paris cathedral's spire as renovation enters final stage |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/notre-dame-rooster-back-paris-cathedrals-spire-renovation-enters-final-stage-2023-12-16/ |access-date=23 December 2023 |work=Reuters |date=16 December 2023}}</ref>
| spire height     = {{cvt|96|m}}
| materials        = Limestone and marble
| bells            = [[Bells of Notre-Dame de Paris|10]] (bronze)
| archdiocese      = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris|Paris]]
| archbishop       = [[Laurent Ulrich]]
| rector           = Olivier Ribadeau Dumas
| director         = Sylvain Dieudonné<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musique-sacree-notredamedeparis.fr/|title=Musique Sacrée à Notre-Dame de Paris|website=msndp|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415212703/https://www.musique-sacree-notredamedeparis.fr/|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| organist         = [[Olivier Latry]] (since 1985); <br/> {{ill|Vincent Dubois (organist)|lt=Vincent Dubois|fr|Vincent Dubois (organiste)}} (since 2016); <br/> [[Thierry Escaich]] (since 2024); <br/> [[Thibault Fajoles (organist)|Thibault Fajoles]] (assistant organist, since 2024)
| embedded         = {{Infobox historic site
| embed                 = yes
| designation1          = WHS
| designation1_date     = 1991
| designation1_partof   = Paris, Banks of the Seine
| designation1_number   = 600
| designation1_criteria = I, II, IV<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/600/|title=Paris, Banks of the Seine|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=17 June 2024|archive-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008223316/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/600/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| designation2          = Monument historique
| designation2_offname  = Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
| designation2_type     = Cathédrale
| designation2_criteria = 
| designation2_date     = 1862<ref>{{harvnb|Mérimée database|1993}}</ref>
| designation2_number   = PA00086250
}}
}}

'''Notre-Dame de Paris''' ({{langx|fr|Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris}} {{IPA|fr|nɔtʁ(ə) dam də paʁi|lang|Fr-Notre Dame de Paris.wav}}: "'''Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris'''"), often referred to simply as '''Notre-Dame''',{{efn|The name ''Notre Dame'', meaning "[[Blessed Virgin Mary|Our Lady]]", was frequently used in [[Notre Dame (disambiguation)#Churches and cathedrals|names of churches]], including the cathedrals of [[Chartres Cathedral|Chartres]], [[Reims Cathedral|Reims]] and [[Rouen Cathedral|Rouen]].}}{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˌ|n|ɒ|t|r|ə|_|ˈ|d|ɑː|m|,_|ˌ|n|oʊ|t|r|ə|_|ˈ|d|eɪ|m|,_|ˌ|n|oʊ|t|r|ə|_|ˈ|d|ɑː|m}};{{sfn|Collins Dictionary: "Notre Dame"}}{{sfn|Oxford English Dictionary: "Notre Dame"}}{{sfn|New Oxford American Dictionary: "Notre Dame"}}}} is a [[Medieval architecture|medieval]] [[Catholic]] [[cathedral]] on the [[Île de la Cité]] (an island in the River [[Seine]]), in the [[4th arrondissement of Paris]], France. It is the cathedral church of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris]].

The cathedral, dedicated to the [[Virgin Mary]] ("Our Lady"),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Melissa |date=2019-04-15 |title=Five things to know about Notre Dame Cathedral |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-notre-dame-paris-cathedral-20190415-story.html |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> is considered one of the finest examples of [[French Gothic architecture]]. Several attributes set it apart from the earlier [[Romanesque style]], including its pioneering use of the [[rib vault]] and [[flying buttress]], its enormous and colourful [[rose windows]], and the [[naturalism (art)|naturalism]] and abundance of its [[sculptural]] decoration.{{Sfn|Ducher|1988|pages=46–62}} Notre-Dame is also exceptional for its three [[Pipe organ|pipe organs]] (one historic) and [[Bells of Notre-Dame de Paris|its immense church bells]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/notre-dame-cathedral-france-3356.html|title=Facts on the Notre Dame Cathedral in France|website=Travel Tips – USA Today|language=en|access-date=24 April 2019|first=Jason|last=Chavis|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617123117/https://traveltips.usatoday.com/notre-dame-cathedral-france-3356.html}}</ref>

The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop [[Maurice de Sully]] and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beautiful sacred music created for Notre Dame of Paris |url=https://aleteia.org/2024/12/07/beautiful-sacred-music-created-for-notre-dame-of-paris |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref> In the 1790s, during the [[French Revolution]], Notre-Dame suffered extensive [[desecration]]; much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. In the 19th century, the cathedral hosted the [[coronation of Napoleon]] and the funerals of many of the [[presidents of the French Republic|French Republic's presidents]]. The 1831 publication of [[Victor Hugo]]'s novel ''Notre-Dame de Paris'' (English title: ''[[The Hunchback of Notre-Dame]]'') inspired interest which led to restoration between 1844 and 1864, supervised by [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]]. On 26 August 1944, the [[Liberation of Paris]] from German occupation was celebrated in Notre-Dame with the singing of the [[Magnificat]]. Beginning in 1963, the cathedral's façade was cleaned of soot and grime. Another cleaning and restoration project was carried out between 1991 and 2000.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr">{{cite web|url=http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/histoire/historique-de-la-construction|title=Historique de la construction|language=fr|access-date=2 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802135015/http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/histoire/historique-de-la-construction|archive-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> A [[Notre-Dame fire|fire in April 2019]] caused serious damage, closing the cathedral for extensive and costly repairs; it [[Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris|reopened]] in December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 7, 2024 |title=An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as heads of state look on – The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/07/lifestyle/notre-dame-reopening/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Notre-Dame is a widely recognised symbol of both the city of [[Paris]] and the French nation. In 1805, [[Pope Pius VII]] awarded it honorary status as a [[minor basilica]]. As the cathedral of the [[archdiocese of Paris]], Notre-Dame contains the ''[[cathedra]]'' or seat of the [[archbishop of Paris]] (currently [[Laurent Ulrich]]). In the early 21st century, about 12&nbsp;million people visited Notre-Dame annually, making it the most visited monument in Paris.<ref name="ParisDigest">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parisdigest.com/paris/paris-facts.htm|title=Paris facts|year=2018|publisher=Paris Digest|access-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202418/https://www.parisdigest.com/paris/paris-facts.htm|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 1905, Notre-Dame, like the other cathedrals in France, has been owned by the French government, with the exclusive rights of use granted to the French Roman Catholic Church. The French government is responsible for its maintenance.

Over time, the cathedral has gradually been stripped of many decorations and artworks. It still contains Gothic, [[Baroque]], and 19th-century sculptures, 17th- and early 18th-century altarpieces, and some of the most important relics in [[Christendom]], including the [[crown of thorns]], and a sliver and nail from the [[True Cross]].

==Key dates==
[[File:ND de Paris 1699.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The Cathedral in 1699]]
[[File:Édouard Baldus - Notre-Dame de Paris.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The church restored by [[Viollet-le-Duc]] (1860s)]]
[[File:Henri Matisse La Cité–Notre-Dame Etching 1937.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Henri Matisse]], ''Notre-Dame de Paris'', 1937, [[etching]]]]
[[File:Notre Dame on fire 15042019-1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Cathedral fire (April 15, 2019)]]
'''4th century''' – [[Cathedral of Saint Étienne, Paris|Cathedral of Saint Étienne]], dedicated to [[Saint Stephen]], built just west of present cathedral{{Sfn|Lours|2018|p=292}}
* '''1163''' – Bishop [[Maurice de Sully]] begins construction of new cathedral.{{Sfn|Lours|2018|p=292}}
* '''1182 or 1185''' – [[Choir (architecture)|Choir]] completed, [[clerestory]] with two levels: upper level of upright windows with pointed arches, still without [[tracery]], lower level of small [[rose window]]s.
* '''{{Circa|1200}}''' – Construction of [[nave]], with [[flying buttress]]es, completed.
* '''{{Circa|1210}}–1220''' – Construction of towers begins.
* '''{{Circa|1210}}–1220''' – Two new traverses join towers with nave. West rose window complete in 1220.
* '''After 1220''' – New flying buttresses added to choir walls, remodeling of the clerestories: pointed arched windows are enlarged downward, replacing the [[Triforium|triforia]], and get tracery.
* '''1235–1245''' – Chapels constructed between buttresses of nave and choir.
* '''1250–1260''' – North [[transept]] lengthened by [[Jean de Chelles]] to provide more light. North rose window constructed.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chelles |first1=Jean de |last2=DigitalGeorgetown |date=1981 |title=Notre Dame Cathedral North Rose Window |url=https://repository.digital.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/554233 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601120119/https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/554233#:~:text=Notre%20Dame%27s%20north%20transept%20wall,,%20greens,%20browns%20and%20yellows. |archive-date=1 June 2022 |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=DigitalGeorgetown |language=en}}</ref>
* '''1270''' – South transept and rose window completed by [[Pierre de Montreuil]].<ref name="Trintignac and Coloni 1984 p. 45">Trintignac and Coloni (1984), p. 45.</ref>
* '''1699''' – Beginning of major redecoration of interior in [[Louis XIV style]] by [[Hardouin Mansart]] and [[Robert de Cotte]].<ref>Trintignac and Coloni (1984), p. 60.</ref>
* '''1725–1727''' – South rose window, poorly built, is reconstructed. Later entirely rebuilt in 1854.
* '''1790''' – In the [[French Revolution]] the Revolutionary [[Paris Commune (1789–1795)|Paris Commune]] removes all bronze, lead, and precious metals from the cathedral to be melted down.<ref name="Trintignac and Coloni 1984 p. 45"/>
* '''1793''' – The cathedral is converted into a [[Temple of Reason]] and then [[Cult of the Supreme Being|Temple of the Supreme Being]].
* '''1801–1802''' – With the [[Concordat of 1801]], [[Napoleon]] restores the use of the cathedral (though not ownership) to the Catholic Church.
* '''1804''' – On 2 December, Napoleon crowns himself [[Emperor of the French|Emperor]] at Notre-Dame.
* '''1844–1864''' – Major restoration by [[Jean-Baptiste Lassus]] and [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]] with additions in the spirit of the original Gothic style.<ref>"Le Guide du Patrimoine en France, Editions du Patrimoine, Centre des Monuments Nationaux, p. 303</ref>
* '''1871''' – In final days of the [[Paris Commune]], the [[Communards]] prepared to burn the cathedral, but abandoned their plan since it would necessarily also burn the crowded neighboring hospital for the elderly.
* '''1944''' – On 26 August, General [[Charles de Gaulle]] celebrates the [[Liberation of Paris]] with a special Mass at Notre-Dame.
* '''1963''' – Culture Minister [[André Malraux]] begins the cleaning of centuries of grime and soot from the cathedral façade.
* '''2019''' – On 15 April, [[Notre-Dame fire|a fire]] destroys a large part of the roof and the [[Flèche (architecture)|flèche]].
* '''2021''' – Reconstruction begins, which lasted 3 years.
* '''2024''' – [[Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris|Reopening ceremonies 7–8 December]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/relive-the-ceremonies/|title=Relive the reopening ceremonies (December 7-8)|date=2024-12-11|website=www.notredamedeparis.fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106115512/https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/relive-the-ceremonies/|archive-date=2025-01-06|url-status=live|access-date=2025-01-06}}</ref> On 13 December 2024 the revered Crown of Thorns relic was returned to the cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web |author=The Associated Press (AP)|author-link=Associated Press|date=2024-12-13|title='Crown of Thorns' returns to Notre Dame Cathedral for public veneration |url=https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-france-relc-crown-of-thorns-f06a9d707663ebd407d78282530b3dd5 |access-date=2025-01-06|website=Associated Press}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Plan Notre Dame cathédrale primitive.svg|thumb|right|Outline of the primitive Cathedral of Notre-Dame in 1150, on the spot of the [[Nave (architecture)|nave]], the [[transept]] and the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] of the current building. The [[Cathedral of Saint Étienne, Paris|Cathedral of Saint Étienne]] was located to the west, at the level of today's [[Parvise|parvis]].]]
[[File:Notre-Dame of Paris - A Sketch of the Contruction Sequence.webm|thumb|Construction sequence from 12th century to present-day, created by [[Stephen Murray (historian)|Stephen Murray]] and Myles Zhang]]

It is believed that before the arrival of [[Christianity in France]], a [[Gallo-Roman]] temple dedicated to [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]] stood on the site of Notre-Dame. Evidence for this includes the [[Pillar of the Boatmen]], discovered beneath the cathedral in 1710. In the 4th or 5th century, a large early Christian church, the [[Cathedral of Saint Étienne, Paris|Cathedral of Saint Étienne]], was built on the site, close to the royal palace.{{Sfn|Lours|2018|p=292}} The entrance was situated about {{convert|40|m|ft}} west of the present west front of Notre-Dame, and the apse was located about where the west façade is today. It was roughly half the size of the later Notre-Dame, {{convert|70|m|ft}} long—and separated into [[Nave (architecture)|nave]] and four [[aisle]]s by marble columns, then decorated with [[mosaic]]s.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/><ref name="premieres">{{cite web|title=Notre-Dame de Paris. Une des premières cathédrales gothiques de France|url=https://www.andurand.net/HdA/seconde/moyen%20age/gothique/notre%20dame%20paris.pdf|language=fr|access-date=2025-01-06|archive-date=2025-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103101631/https://www.andurand.net/HdA/seconde/moyen%20age/gothique/notre%20dame%20paris.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The last church before the cathedral of Notre-Dame was a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] remodelling of Saint-Étienne that, although enlarged and remodelled, was found to be unfit for the growing population of Paris.<ref name=lepoint>{{cite magazine|last=Fourny|first=Marc|title=Les dix secrets de Notre-Dame de Paris|language=fr|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/culture/les-dix-secrets-de-notre-dame-de-paris-12-12-2012-1561105_3.php|magazine=[[Le Point]]|date=12 December 2012|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809181752/http://www.lepoint.fr/culture/les-dix-secrets-de-notre-dame-de-paris-12-12-2012-1561105_3.php|archive-date=9 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The growth of the population of [[Paris]] and other French cities was characteristic of Western Europe during the [[Renaissance of the 12th century]]. It is thought that the population of Paris grew from 25,000 in 1180 to 50,000 in 1220, making it the largest European city outside of Italy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paris à l'époque de Philippe Auguste|language=fr|url=https://philippe-auguste.com/ville/maisons.html|website=philippe-auguste.com|access-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820122443/http://philippe-auguste.com/ville/maisons.html|archive-date=20 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>}} A [[baptistery]], the [[Church of Saint-Jean-le-Rond, Paris|Church of Saint-John-le-Rond]], built about 452, was located on the north side of the west front of Notre-Dame until the work of [[Jacques-Germain Soufflot]] in the 18th century.<ref name="rouche">{{citation |last=Rouche |first=Michel |title=Jubilé de cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris – La symbolique des cathédrales: approche historique, religieuse, sociale |date=19 December 2012 |work=La voix est libre |publisher=Radio Notre-Dame |language=fr}}.</ref>

In 1160, the [[bishop of Paris]], [[Maurice de Sully]],<ref name=rouche/> decided to build a new and much larger church. He summarily demolished the earlier cathedral and recycled its materials.<ref name=lepoint/> Sully decided that the new church should be built in the [[French Gothic architecture|Gothic style]], which had been inaugurated at the royal abbey of Saint Denis in the late 1130s.<ref name="premieres"/>

===Construction===
The chronicler {{ill|Jean de Saint-Victor (chronicler)|fr|Jean de Saint-Victor (chroniqueur)|lt=Jean de Saint-Victor}} recorded in the ''Memorial Historiarum'' that the construction of Notre-Dame began between 24 March and 25 April 1163 with the laying of the [[cornerstone]] in the presence of [[King Louis VII]] and [[Pope Alexander III]].{{sfn|de Villefosse|1980|p=25}}{{sfn|Henriet|2005|p=294}} Four phases of construction took place under bishops Maurice de Sully and [[Eudes de Sully]] (not related to Maurice), according to masters whose names have been lost. Analysis of vault stones that fell in the 2019 fire shows that they were quarried in [[Vexin]], a county northwest of Paris, and presumably brought up the Seine by boat.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lesté-Lasserre |first1=Christa |title=Scientists are leading Notre Dame's restoration—and probing mysteries laid bare by its devastating fire |journal=Science |date=12 March 2020 |doi=10.1126/science.abb6744}}</ref>

Five years after the devastating fire, Notre-Dame de Paris formally reopened with a two hour ceremony inside its newly renovated interior following an estimated $739 million restoration. This was then followed by an event that was attended by global leaders including French president Emmanuel Macron and US president-elect Donald Trump. This celebration honoured the successful completion of the 2,000-plus day rebuilding effort that destroyed the spire and wooden roof structure. Macron hailed the cathedral as a metaphor for the nation's ability to "accomplish the impossible". <ref>{{Cite web |last=Berlinger |first=Joshua |date=17 December 2024 |title=Inside Notre Dame, Paris' Gothic gem, as it reopens to the world |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/07/style/france-notre-dame-reopens-intl-cmd |access-date=11 December 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Coupe.transversale.cathedrale.Paris.png|thumb|left|Cross-section of the double supporting arches and buttresses of the [[nave]], drawn by [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]] as they would have appeared from 1220 to 1230{{sfn|Viollet-le-Duc|1868|p=288}}]]

The first phase began with the construction of the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]] and its two [[ambulatory|ambulatories]]. According to [[Robert of Torigni]], the choir was completed in 1177 and the [[high altar]] consecrated on 19 May 1182 by [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Henry of Marcy|Henri de Château-Marçay]], the [[Papal legate]] in Paris, and Maurice de Sully.{{sfn|Delisle|1873|p=68}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2022}} The second phase, from 1182 to 1190, concerned the construction of the four sections of the nave behind the choir and its aisles to the height of the [[clerestories]]. It began after the completion of the choir but ended before the final allotted section of the nave was finished. Beginning in 1190, the bases of the façade were put in place, and the first traverses were completed.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/> Patriarch [[Heraclius of Jerusalem]] called for the [[Third Crusade]] in 1185 from the still-incomplete cathedral.

[[Louis IX]] deposited the [[Relics associated with Jesus|relics of the passion of Christ]], which included the [[crown of thorns]], a nail from the [[True Cross]] and a sliver of the True Cross, which he had purchased at great expense from the [[Latin Emperor]] [[Baldwin II of Constantinople|Baldwin II]], in the cathedral during the construction of the [[Sainte-Chapelle]]. An [[Shirt of Saint Louis|under-shirt]], believed to have belonged to Louis, was added to the collection of relics at some time after his death.

[[Transepts]] were added at the choir, where the altar was located, in order to bring more light into the centre of the church. The use of simpler four-part rather than six-part rib vaults meant that the roofs were stronger and could be higher. After Bishop Maurice de Sully's death in 1196, his successor, Eudes de Sully oversaw the completion of the transepts, and continued work on the [[nave]], which was nearing completion at the time of his death in 1208. By this time, the western façade was already largely built; it was completed around the mid-1240s. Between 1225 and 1250 the upper gallery of the nave was constructed, along with the two towers on the west façade.{{sfn|Bruzelius|1987|pp=540–69}}

[[File:Notre-Dame de Paris composite transverse section.svg|thumb|Arrows show forces in vault and current flying buttresses ([[:commons:File:Notre-Dame de Paris composite transverse section.svg|detailed description]])]]

Another significant change came in the mid-13th century, when the transepts were remodelled in the latest [[Rayonnant]] style; in the late 1240s [[Jean de Chelles]] added a gabled portal to the north transept topped by a spectacular rose window. Shortly afterward (from 1258) [[Peter of Montereau|Pierre de Montreuil]] executed a similar scheme on the southern transept. Both these transept portals were richly embellished with sculpture; the south portal depicts scenes from the lives of [[Saint Stephen]] and of various local saints, and the north portal featured the infancy of Christ and the story of Theophilus in the [[Tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]], with a highly influential statue of the Virgin and Child in the [[Trumeau (architecture)|trumeau]].{{sfn|Williamson|1995}}{{sfn|Bruzelius|1987|pp=540–69}} Master builders [[Pierre de Chelles]], {{ill|Jean Ravy|fr}}, Jean le Bouteiller, and {{ill|Raymond du Temple|fr}} succeeded de Chelles and de Montreuil and then each other in the construction of the cathedral. Ravy completed de Chelles's [[rood screen]] and chevet chapels, then began the {{convert|15|m|ft|adj=on}} flying buttresses of the choir. Jean le Bouteiller, Ravy's nephew, succeeded him in 1344 and was himself replaced on his death in 1363 by his deputy, Raymond du Temple.

[[Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair]] opened the first [[Estates General (France)|Estates General]] in the cathedral in 1302.

An important innovation in the 12th century was the introduction of the [[flying buttress]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Murray |first=Stephen |date=1998 |title=Notre-Dame of Paris and the Anticipation of Gothic |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3051231 |journal=The Art Bulletin |volume=80 |issue=2 |pages=229–253 |doi=10.2307/3051231 |issn=0004-3079|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Before the buttresses, all of the weight of the roof pressed outward and down to the walls, and the abutments supporting them. With the flying buttress, the weight was carried by the ribs of the vault entirely outside the structure to a series of counter-supports, which were topped with stone pinnacles which gave them greater weight. The buttresses meant that the walls could be higher and thinner, and could have larger windows. The date of the first buttresses is not known with precision beyond an installation date in the 12th century. Art historian [[Andrew Tallon]] has argued, based on detailed laser scans of the entire structure, that the buttresses were part of the original design. According to Tallon, the scans indicate that "the upper part of the building has not moved one smidgen in 800 years,"<ref name=Tallon>{{cite magazine|last=Shea|first=Rachel Hartigan|date=16 April 2019| magazine=National Geographic|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150622-andrew-tallon-notre-dame-cathedral-laser-scan-art-history-medieval-gothic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623232527/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150622-andrew-tallon-notre-dame-cathedral-laser-scan-art-history-medieval-gothic/|archive-date=23 June 2015|title=Historian uses lasers to unlock mysteries of Gothic cathedrals|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> whereas if they were added later some movement from prior to their addition would be expected. Tallon thus concluded that flying buttresses were present from the outset.<ref name="Tallon"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sandron |first=Dany |title=Notre-Dame Cathedral: nine centuries of history |last2=Tallon |first2=Andrew |last3=Cook |first3=Lindsay |date=2020 |publisher=The Pennsylvania State University Press |isbn=978-0-271-08622-4 |location=University Park, Pennsylvania}}</ref> The first buttresses were replaced by larger and stronger ones in the 14th century; these had a reach of {{convert|15|m|ft|spell=in|sigfig=1}} between the walls and counter-supports.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/>

[[John of Jandun]] recognized the cathedral as one of Paris's three most important buildings [prominent structures] in his 1323 ''Treatise on the Praises of Paris'':
{{blockquote|text=That most glorious church of the most glorious Virgin Mary, mother of God, deservedly shines out, like the sun among stars. And although some speakers, by their own free judgment, because [they are] able to see only a few things easily, may say that some other is more beautiful, I believe, however, respectfully, that, if they attend more diligently to the whole and the parts, they will quickly retract this opinion. Where indeed, I ask, would they find two towers of such magnificence and perfection, so high, so large, so strong, clothed round about with such multiple varieties of ornaments? Where, I ask, would they find such a multipartite arrangement of so many lateral vaults, above and below? Where, I ask, would they find such light-filled amenities as the many surrounding chapels? Furthermore, let them tell me in what church I may see such a large cross, of which one arm separates the choir from the nave. Finally, I would willingly learn where [there are] two such circles, situated opposite each other in a straight line, which on account of their appearance are given the name of the fourth vowel [O]; among which smaller orbs and circles, with wondrous artifice, so that some arranged circularly, others angularly, surround windows ruddy with precious colours and beautiful with the most subtle figures of the pictures. In fact, I believe that this church offers the carefully discerning such cause for admiration that its inspection can scarcely sate the soul.|author=Jean de Jandun|source=''Tractatus de laudibus Parisius''{{sfn|Inglis|2003|pp=63–85}}}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Plan.cathedrale.Paris.png|Plan of the cathedral made by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. Portals and nave to the left, a choir in the center, and [[apse]] and [[ambulatory]] to the right. The annex to the south is the [[sacristy]].
File:Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - 15.jpg|Early six-part [[rib vault]]s of the nave. The ribs transferred the thrust of the weight of the roof downward and outwards to the pillars and the supporting buttresses.
File:P1180494 Paris IV Notre-Dame détail sud rwk.jpg|The massive buttresses which counter the outward thrust from the rib vaults of the nave. The weight of the building-shaped [[pinnacle]]s helps keep the [[line of thrust]] safely within the buttresses.
File:Notre-Dame-Paris east 2.jpg|Later [[flying buttress]]es of the apse of Notre-Dame (14th century) reached {{convert|15|m}} from the wall to the counter-supports.
</gallery>

===15th–18th century===
On 16 December 1431, the boy-king [[Henry VI of England]] was crowned king of France in Notre-Dame, aged ten, the traditional coronation church of [[Reims Cathedral]] being under French control.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Allmand |first=C. |author-link=Christopher Allmand |title=The Coronations of Henry VI |date=May 1982 |url=http://www.historytoday.com/ct-allmand/coronations-henry-vi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728212009/https://www.historytoday.com/ct-allmand/coronations-henry-vi |archive-date=28 July 2017 |url-status=live |magazine=[[History Today]] |volume=32 |issue=5}}</ref>

During the [[Renaissance]], the Gothic style fell out of style, and the internal pillars and walls of Notre-Dame were covered with tapestries.<ref name="Libération1">{{cite news|title=Notre-Dame de Paris, joyau de l'art gothique, célèbre ses 850 ans|url=http://www.liberation.fr/depeches/2012/12/12/notre-dame-de-paris-joyau-de-l-art-gothique-celebre-ses-850-ans_867048|language=fr|work=[[Libération]]|date=12 December 2012}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1548, rioting [[Huguenots]] damaged some of the statues of Notre-Dame, considering them [[idolatrous]].<ref name=Chavis>{{cite news|last=Chavis|first=Jason|title=Facts on the Notre Dame Cathedral in France|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/notre-dame-cathedral-france-3356.html|work=USA Today|access-date=3 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060157/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/notre-dame-cathedral-france-3356.html|archive-date=23 October 2013}}</ref>

{{ill|Notre-Dame Parvise Fountain|fr|Fontaine du Parvis Notre-Dame|lt=The fountain}} in Notre-Dame's [[parvise|parvis]] was added in 1625 to provide nearby Parisians with running water.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fontaines et réservoirs de Paris|url=https://400ansaqueducmedicis.org/fontaines-et-reservoirs-de-paris/|language=fr|access-date=19 April 2019|website=400ansaqueducmedicis.org|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413211220/https://400ansaqueducmedicis.org/fontaines-et-reservoirs-de-paris/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Since 1449, the Parisian goldsmith guild had made regular donations to the cathedral chapter. In 1630, the guild began donating a large altarpiece every year on 1 May. These works came to be known as the ''[[May (painting)|grands mays]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/linterieur/peintures/les-grands-mays-de-notre-dame-de-paris/|title=Les grands "Mays"|website=notredamedeparis.fr|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820092615/http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/linterieur/peintures/les-grands-mays-de-notre-dame-de-paris|url-status=live}}</ref> The subject matter was restricted to episodes from the [[Acts of the Apostles]]. The prestigious commission was awarded to the most prominent painters and, after 1648, members of the [[Académie Royale]].

Seventy-six paintings had been donated by 1708, when the custom was discontinued for financial reasons. Those works were confiscated in 1793 and the majority were subsequently dispersed among regional museums in France. Those that remained in the cathedral were removed or relocated within the building by the 19th-century restorers.

Thirteen of the ''grands mays'' hang in Notre-Dame; these paintings suffered water damage during the fire of 2019 and were removed for conservation.

An altarpiece depicting [[Visitation (Christianity)|The Visitation]], painted by [[Jean Jouvenet]] in 1707, was also in the cathedral.

The [[Canon (priest)|canon]] Antoine de La Porte commissioned for Louis XIV six paintings depicting the life of the [[Virgin Mary]] for the choir. At this same time, [[Charles de La Fosse]] painted his ''Adoration of the Magi'', now in the [[Louvre]].<ref>{{cite web|title=L'Adoration des mages|url=https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/l-adoration-des-mages-0|language=fr|publisher=The [[Louvre]]|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002155441/https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/l-adoration-des-mages-0}}</ref> [[Louis Antoine de Noailles]], [[archbishop of Paris]], extensively modified the roof of Notre-Dame in 1726, renovating its framing and removing the [[gargoyle]]s with lead gutters. Noailles also strengthened the buttresses, galleries, terraces, and vaults.{{sfn|Lassus|Viollet-le-Duc|1843|p=18}} In 1756, the cathedral's canons decided that its interior was too dark. The medieval stained glass windows, except the rosettes, were removed and replaced with plain, white glass panes.<ref name="Libération1" /> Lastly, Jacques-Germain Soufflot was tasked with the modification of the portals at the front of the cathedral to allow processions to enter more easily.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Sacre Henry6 England-France 02.jpg|[[Henry VI of England]]'s coronation in Notre-Dame as [[List of French monarchs|King of France]], aged ten, during the [[Hundred Years' War]]. His accession to the throne was in accordance with the [[Treaty of Troyes]] of 1420.
File:La Descente du Saint-Esprit.jpg|''La Descente du Saint-Esprit''; illustration depicting Notre-Dame from the [[Hours of Étienne Chevalier]] by [[Jean Fouquet]], {{circa|1450}}
File:Choeur de ND de Paris 1669.jpg|A [[Te Deum]] in the choir of Notre-Dame in 1669, during the reign of [[Louis XIV]]. The choir was redesigned to make room for more lavish ceremonies.
</gallery>

===French Revolution and Napoleon===
After the [[French Revolution]] in 1789, Notre-Dame and the rest of the church's property in France was seized and made public property.{{sfn|Archives parlementaires, Vol. 22|pp=202–05}} The cathedral was rededicated in 1793 to the [[Cult of Reason]], and then to the [[Cult of the Supreme Being]] in 1794.{{sfn|Duvergier|1825|p=281}} During this time, many of the treasures of the cathedral were either destroyed or plundered. The twenty-eight statues of biblical kings located at the west façade, mistaken for statues of French kings, were beheaded.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/><ref name="Alexander">{{Cite web |date=12 April 2023 |title=Visiting Notre Dame Cathedral – Find Cheap Holidays |url=https://cheapholidayhacks.com/holidaydestinations/visiting-notre-dame-cathedral/ |website=cheapholidayhacks.com |access-date=12 April 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605133851/https://cheapholidayhacks.com/holidaydestinations/visiting-notre-dame-cathedral/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Many of the heads were found during a 1977 excavation nearby, and are on display at the [[Musée de Cluny]]. For a time the [[Liberty (personification)|Goddess of Liberty]] replaced the Virgin Mary on several altars.{{sfn|Herrick|2004|pp=75–76}} The cathedral's great bells escaped being melted down. All of the other large statues on the façade, with the exception of the statue of the Virgin Mary on the portal of the cloister, were destroyed.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/> The cathedral came to be used as a warehouse for the storage of food and other non-religious purposes.<ref name=Chavis/>

With the [[Concordat of 1801]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] restored Notre-Dame to the Catholic Church; this was finalised on 18 April 1802. Napoleon also named Paris's new bishop, [[Jean-Baptiste de Belloy]], who restored the cathedral's interior. [[Charles Percier]] and [[Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine]] made quasi-Gothic modifications to Notre-Dame for the [[coronation of Napoleon]] as [[Emperor of the French]] within the cathedral. The building's exterior was [[whitewash]]ed and the interior decorated in [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style, then in vogue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris|url=https://www.napoleon.org/magazine/lieux/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris/|publisher=Foundation Napoleon|access-date=25 April 2019|language=fr|archive-date=5 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505224111/https://www.napoleon.org/magazine/lieux/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Fête de la Raison 1793.jpg|The [[Cult of Reason]] is celebrated at Notre-Dame during the [[French Revolution]] (1793)
File:Percier et Fontaine 004.jpg|Arrival of [[Napoleon]] at the east end of Notre-Dame for his [[coronation of Napoleon I|coronation]] as [[Emperor of the French]] on 2 December 1804
File:Jacques-Louis David - The Coronation of Napoleon (1805-1807).jpg|The [[coronation of Napoleon]], on 2 December 1804 at Notre-Dame, as portrayed in the 1807 painting ''[[The Coronation of Napoleon]]'' by [[Jacques-Louis David]]
</gallery>

===19th-century restoration===
In the decades after the [[Napoleonic Wars]], Notre-Dame fell into such a state of disrepair that Paris officials considered its demolition. [[Victor Hugo]], who admired the cathedral, wrote the novel ''Notre-Dame de Paris'' (published in English as ''[[The Hunchback of Notre-Dame]]'') in 1831 to save Notre-Dame. The book was an enormous success, raising awareness of the cathedral's decaying state.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/> The same year as Hugo's novel was published, anti-[[Legitimists]] plundered Notre-Dame's [[sacristy]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Limouzin-Lamothe|first=Roger|date=1964|title=La dévastation de Notre-Dame et de l'archevêché de Paris en février 1831|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/rhef_0300-9505_1964_num_50_147_1733|journal=Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France|volume=50|issue=147|pages=125–134|doi=10.3406/rhef.1964.1733|issn=0048-7988|archive-date=15 March 2022|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315075630/https://www.persee.fr/doc/rhef_0300-9505_1964_num_50_147_1733|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1844 King [[Louis Philippe]] ordered that the church be restored.<ref name="notredamedeparis.fr"/>

The architect who had been in charge of Notre-Dame's maintenance, [[Étienne-Hippolyte Godde]], was dismissed. [[Jean-Baptiste Lassus]] and [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]], who had distinguished themselves with the restoration of the nearby Sainte-Chapelle, were appointed in 1844. The next year, Viollet-le-Duc submitted a budget of 3,888,500 [[French franc|francs]], which was reduced to 2,650,000 francs, for the restoration of Notre-Dame and the construction of a new sacristy building. This budget was exhausted in 1850, and work stopped as Viollet-le-Duc made proposals for more money. In totality, the restoration cost over 12&nbsp;million francs. Supervising a large team of sculptors, glass makers and other craftsmen, and working from drawings or engravings, Viollet-le-Duc remade or added decorations if he felt they were in the spirit of the original style. One of the latter items was a taller and more ornate [[Flèche (architecture)|flèche]], to replace the original 13th-century flèche, which had been removed in 1786.<ref>Mignon, Olivier, ''Architecture des Cathédrales Gothiques'', (2015), Éditions Ouest-France, (in French), pg. 18.</ref> The decoration of the restoration included a bronze roof statue of [[Thomas the Apostle|Saint Thomas]] that resembles Viollet-le-Duc, as well as the sculpture of mythical creatures on the ''Galerie des Chimères''.<ref name=Chavis/>

The construction of the sacristy was especially financially costly. To secure a firm foundation, it was necessary for Viollet-le-Duc's labourers to dig {{convert|9|m|ft|spell=on}}. Master glassworkers meticulously copied styles of the 13th century, as written about by art historians Antoine Lusson and [[Adolphe Napoléon Didron]].{{sfn|Cabezas|1988|pp=118–20}}

During the [[Paris Commune]] of March through May 1871, the cathedral and other churches were closed, and some two hundred priests and the Archbishop of Paris were taken as hostages. In May, during the [[Semaine sanglante]] of "Bloody Week", as the army recaptured the city, the Communards targeted the cathedral, along with the [[Tuileries Palace]] and other landmarks, for destruction; the Communards piled the furniture together in order to burn the cathedral. The arson was halted when the Communard government realised that the fire would also destroy the neighbouring [[Hôtel-Dieu, Paris|Hôtel-Dieu]] hospital, filled with hundreds of patients.<ref>Lissagaray (1896), p. 338.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">
File:ND de Paris avant 1841.jpg|The western façade of Notre-Dame in 1841, showing the building in an advanced state of disrepair before the major restoration by Viollet-le-Duc
File:Lassus, Viollet-le-Duc - Projet de restauration de Notre-Dame de Paris - page 4.jpg|Proposed doorway decoration by Lassus and Viollet-le-Duc; plate engraved by [[Léon Gaucherel]]
File:Bayard, Hippolyte - Notre-Dame de Paris (2) (Zeno Fotografie).jpg|The southern façade of Notre-Dame at the beginning of the restoration work; photo from 1847 by [[Hippolyte Bayard]]
File:Notre-Dame Spire Model (1859).jpg|Model of the flèche and "forest" of wooden roof beams made for Viollet-le-Duc (1859) (Museum of Historic Monuments, Paris)
</gallery>

===20th century===
[[File:Maison Braun & Cie, Notre Dame de Paris, ca. 1930-crop, change chiaroscuro, perspective, add color by Paolo Villa 2019.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Façade of Notre-Dame in the 1930s]]

During the liberation of Paris in August 1944, the cathedral suffered some minor damage from stray bullets. Some of the medieval glass was damaged, and was replaced by glass with modern abstract designs. On 26 August, a special Mass was held in the cathedral to celebrate the liberation of Paris from the Germans; it was attended by General [[Charles De Gaulle]] and General [[Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque|Philippe Leclerc]].

In 1963, on the initiative of culture minister [[André Malraux]] and to mark the 800th anniversary of the cathedral, the façade was cleaned of the centuries of soot and grime, restoring it to its original off-white colour.<ref>{{cite book|last=Laurent|first=Xavier|title=Grandeur et misère du patrimoine, d'André Malraux à Jacques Duhamel (1959–1973)|year=2003|publisher=Librairie Droz |isbn=978-2-900791-60-8|oclc=53974742|language=fr}}</ref>

On 19 January 1969, vandals placed a North Vietnamese flag at the top of the flèche, and sabotaged the stairway leading to it. The flag was cut from the flèche by Paris Fire Brigade Sergeant [[Parkour#Raymond and David Belle|Raymond Belle]] in a helicopter mission, the first of its kind in France.<ref>{{cite web |title=SYND 19-1-69 VIET CONG FLAG REMOVED FROM NOTRE DAME |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 July 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxUgWD4lsN4 |language=en |access-date=16 August 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144936/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxUgWD4lsN4 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vietcong Flag Put Atop Notre Dame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/01/20/archives/vietcong-flag-put-atop-notre-dame.html |work=The New York Times |date=20 January 1969 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |access-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144236/https://www.nytimes.com/1969/01/20/archives/vietcong-flag-put-atop-notre-dame.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Angel |first1=Julie |title=Breaking the Jump: The Secret Story of Parkour's High Flying Rebellion |date=July 2016 |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=978-1-78131-554-5 |pages=90–91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iAxjDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT90 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Requiem Mass]] of [[Charles de Gaulle]] was held in Notre-Dame on 12 November 1970.<ref>{{cite news|title=France mourns de Gaulle; world leaders to attend a service at Notre Dame|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/11/archives/france-mourns-de-gaulle-world-leaders-to-attend-a-service-at-notre.html|date=11 November 1970|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=13 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413194204/https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/11/archives/france-mourns-de-gaulle-world-leaders-to-attend-a-service-at-notre.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 June 1971, [[Philippe Petit]] walked across a tight-rope strung between Notre-Dame's two bell towers entertaining spectators.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sneaky Juggler Has Ball Up in Sky at Notre Dame|work=Ogden-Standard Examiner|date=27 June 1971|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4082961/sneaky_juggler_has_ball/|archive-date=30 April 2019|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430065607/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4082961/sneaky_juggler_has_ball/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the [[Magnificat]] of 30 May 1980, [[Pope John Paul II]] celebrated Mass on the [[parvis]] of the cathedral.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gohn|first=Pat|title=Prayer of St. John Paul II at Notre Dame from May 30, 1980|url=http://www.catholicdigest.com/catholic-digest/prayer-of-st-john-paul-ii-at-notre-dame-cathedral-paris-1980/|work=[[Catholic Digest]]|date=15 April 2019|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424171405/http://www.catholicdigest.com/catholic-digest/prayer-of-st-john-paul-ii-at-notre-dame-cathedral-paris-1980/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Requiem Mass of [[François Mitterrand]] was held at the cathedral, as with past French heads of state, on 11 January 1996.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Whitney|first=Craig R.|title=Francois Mitterrand Dies at 79; Champion of a Unified Europe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/09/world/francois-mitterrand-dies-at-79-champion-of-a-unified-europe.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=9 January 1996|access-date=10 November 2011|archive-date=16 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516120427/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/09/world/francois-mitterrand-dies-at-79-champion-of-a-unified-europe.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The stone masonry of the cathedral's exterior had deteriorated in the 19th and 20th centuries due to increased [[air pollution]] in Paris, which accelerated erosion of decorations and discoloured the stone. By the late 1980s, several gargoyles and turrets had fallen or become too loose to remain safely in place.<ref name="NYT-1992">{{cite news |last=Simons |first=Marlisle |date=9 April 1992 |title=To Notre Dame's Rescue, Sickly Gargoyles and All |page=A4 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/09/world/paris-journal-to-notre-dame-s-rescue-sickly-gargoyles-and-all.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064007/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/09/world/paris-journal-to-notre-dame-s-rescue-sickly-gargoyles-and-all.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A decade-long renovation programme began in 1991 and replaced much of the exterior, with care given to retain the authentic architectural elements of the cathedral, including rigorous inspection of new limestone blocks.<ref name="NYT-1992"/><ref>{{cite news |last=August |first=Marilyn |date=7 April 1991 |title=Notre Dame Church Will Get Face Lift |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-07-mn-31-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064005/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-07-mn-31-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A discreet system of electrical wires, not visible from below, was also installed on the roof to deter pigeons.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 April 1998 |title=Paris pigeons to get shock treatment at Notre Dame |url=https://www.deseret.com/1998/4/14/19374473/paris-pigeons-to-get-shock-treatment-at-notre-dame/ |work=The Guardian |via=[[Deseret News]] |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013619/https://www.deseret.com/1998/4/14/19374473/paris-pigeons-to-get-shock-treatment-at-notre-dame |url-status=live }}</ref> The cathedral's [[pipe organ]] was upgraded with a computerised system to control the mechanical connections to the [[Organ pipe|pipes]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitney |first=Craig R. |date=3 April 1995 |title=Notre Dame's Organ and Computer Are No Duet |page=A4 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/03/world/paris-journal-notre-dame-s-organ-and-computer-are-no-duet.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064008/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/03/world/paris-journal-notre-dame-s-organ-and-computer-are-no-duet.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The west face was cleaned and restored in time for [[millennium celebrations]] in December 1999.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bremner |first=Charles |date=21 December 1999 |title=Paris given a millennium makeover |page=15 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:NOTRE DAME DE PARIS May 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Notre-Dame in May 2012. From top to bottom, [[nave]] walls are pierced by [[clerestory]] windows, arches to [[triforium]], and arches to [[side aisle]]s.]]

The Requiem Mass of Cardinal [[Jean-Marie Lustiger]], former archbishop of Paris and Jewish convert to Catholicism, was held in Notre-Dame on 10 August 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nicolas Sarkozy assistera aux obsèques du cardinal Lustiger|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/info/infojour/reuters.asp?id=50441&1104|work=[[L'Express (France)|L'Express]]|date=9 August 2007|language=fr|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215135528/http://www.lexpress.fr/info/infojour/reuters.asp?id=50441&1104|archive-date=15 February 2008}}</ref>

The set of four 19th-century bells at the top of the northern towers at Notre-Dame were melted down and recast into new bronze bells in 2013, to celebrate the building's 850th anniversary. They were designed to recreate the sound of the cathedral's original bells from the 17th century.<ref>{{cite news |last=de la Baume |first=Maia |date=19 October 2011 |title=A Melodic Emblem Falls Out of Tune |page=A6 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/world/europe/in-paris-bells-at-notre-dame-will-be-replaced.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064006/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/world/europe/in-paris-bells-at-notre-dame-will-be-replaced.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 February 2013 |title=New Notre Dame bells make harmonious history |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/02/new-notre-dame-bells/1885675/ |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064005/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/02/new-notre-dame-bells/1885675/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the 1990s renovation, the cathedral had continued to show signs of deterioration that prompted the national government to propose a new renovation program in the late 2010s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Breeden |first=Aurelien |date=28 September 2017 |title=In Paris, Worn-Out Notre-Dame Needs a Makeover, and Hopes You Can Help |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/world/europe/paris-notre-dame-renovation.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415222641/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/world/europe/paris-notre-dame-renovation.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Walt |first=Vivienne |date=27 July 2017 |title=Notre Dame Cathedral Is Crumbling. Who Will Help Save It? |url=https://time.com/4876087/notre-dame-cathedral-is-crumbling/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=4 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504171340/http://time.com/4876087/notre-dame-cathedral-is-crumbling/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The entire renovation was estimated to cost €100&nbsp;million, which the archbishop of Paris planned to raise through funds from the national government and private donations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sage |first=Adam |date=10 March 2018 |title=Paris's crumbling Notre-Dame looks to wealthy foreigners for salvation |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pariss-crumbling-notre-dame-looks-to-wealthy-foreigners-for-salvation-gpsbkl0ls |work=The Times |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416064005/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pariss-crumbling-notre-dame-looks-to-wealthy-foreigners-for-salvation-gpsbkl0ls |url-status=live }}</ref> A €6&nbsp;million renovation of the cathedral's flèche began in late 2018 and continued into the following year, requiring the temporary removal of copper statues on the roof and other decorative elements.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 April 2019 |title=Massive fire engulfs beloved Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris |url=https://www.apnews.com/73404d09773740f699d4b92933abec50 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416000315/https://apnews.com/73404d09773740f699d4b92933abec50 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 April 2019 |title=Notre-Dame cathedral: Macron pledges reconstruction after fire |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47943705 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416050553/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47943705 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Notre-Dame began a year-long celebration of the 850th anniversary of the laying of the first building block for the cathedral on 12 December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ca.rendezvousenfrance.com/en/events/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-celebrates-850-years |title=Paris's Notre Dame cathedral celebrates 850 years|publisher=GIE ATOUT FRANCE|access-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714213721/http://ca.rendezvousenfrance.com/en/events/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-celebrates-850-years|archive-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> On 21 May 2013, [[Dominique Venner]], a [[historian]] and white nationalist, placed a letter on the [[Church (building)|church]] [[altar]] and shot himself, dying instantly. Around 1,500 visitors were evacuated from the cathedral.<ref>{{cite web|last=Frémont|first=Anne-Laure|title=Un historien d'extrême droite se suicide à Notre-Dame|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2013/05/21/01016-20130521ARTFIG00477-un-homme-se-suicide-dans-notre-dame-de-paris.php|work=Le Figaro|date=21 May 2013|language=fr|access-date=21 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522025057/http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2013/05/21/01016-20130521ARTFIG00477-un-homme-se-suicide-dans-notre-dame-de-paris.php|archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>

French police arrested two people on 8 September 2016 after [[Notre-Dame de Paris bombing attempt|a car containing seven gas canisters filled with diesel fuel]] was found near Notre-Dame.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hinnnant|first1=Lori|last2=Sotto|first2=Philippe|title=Gas Containers Found Near Notre Dame|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2016-09-07/2-detained-after-gas-canisters-found-near-paris-notre-dame|work=[[U.S. News & World Report|U.S. News]]|date=7 September 2017|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910153018/http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2016-09-07/2-detained-after-gas-canisters-found-near-paris-notre-dame|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Notre-Dame plot: Five women in court over foiled car bomb attack|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49794927|access-date=10 July 2020|publisher=BBC|date=23 September 2019|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111222637/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49794927|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 February 2017, French police arrested four people in [[Montpellier]] known to have ties to radical Islamist organisations on charges of plotting to travel to Paris and attack the cathedral.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McAuley|first1=James|title=After Louvre attack, France foils another terrorist plot|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/10/after-louvre-attack-france-foils-another-terrorist-plot/|access-date=14 February 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213012340/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/10/after-louvre-attack-france-foils-another-terrorist-plot/|archive-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> On 6 June, visitors were shut inside Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris after [[2017 Notre-Dame de Paris attack|a man with a hammer attacked a police officer outside]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Paris: Inside Notre-Dame during lockdown|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-40175391|work=BBC News|access-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411235638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-40175391/paris-inside-notre-dame-during-lockdown|archive-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Notre Dame, Paris: Hundreds put in terror lockdown|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/notre-dame-paris-hundreds-put-terror-lockdown/3186662/|work=Queensland Time|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415224122/https://www.qt.com.au/news/notre-dame-paris-hundreds-put-terror-lockdown/3186662/}}</ref>

===2019 fire===
{{main|Notre-Dame fire}}

On 15 April 2019 the cathedral caught fire, destroying the flèche and the "forest" of oak roof beams supporting the lead roof.<ref name="partofspirecollapses">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/world/europe/notre-dame-fire.html|title=Part of Notre-Dame Spire Collapses as Paris Cathedral Catches Fire|last=Breeden|first=Aurelien|date=15 April 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 April 2019|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415174607/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/world/europe/notre-dame-fire.html|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=fire1>{{cite news |last= Seiger |first= Theresa |title=Fire reported at Paris' Notre Dame cathedral |url= https://www.ajc.com/news/national/fire-reported-paris-notre-dame-cathedral/ukKe051QWt0d21wFgEhWbP |newspaper= The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415172949/https://www.ajc.com/news/national/fire-reported-paris-notre-dame-cathedral/ukKe051QWt0d21wFgEhWbP |archive-date=15 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fire2">{{cite web |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-on-fire-reuters.html |title= Roof burns at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral as massive fire rages |last= El-Bawab |first= Nadine |date=15 April 2019 |website= CNBC |access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190415172554/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-on-fire-reuters.html |archive-date=15 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was speculated that the fire was linked to ongoing renovation work.

The fire broke out in the attic of the cathedral at 18:18, investigators concluded. The [[smoke detector]]s immediately signalled the fire to a cathedral employee, who did not summon the [[fire brigade]] but instead sent a cathedral guard to investigate. The guard was sent to the wrong location, to the attic of the adjoining sacristy, and reported there was no fire. About 15 minutes later the error was discovered and the guard's supervisor told him to go to the correct location. The fire brigade was still not notified. By the time the guard had climbed the 300 steps to the cathedral attic, the fire was well advanced.<ref name="New York Times 2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/16/world/europe/notre-dame.html|title=Notre-Dame came far closer to collapsing than people knew. This is how it was saved.|last1=Peltier|first1=Elian|date=16 July 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 November 2019|last2=Glanz|first2=James|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Gröndahl|first3=Mika|last4=Cai|first4=Weiyi|last5=Nossiter|first5=Adam|last6=Alderman|first6=Liz|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717082725/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/16/world/europe/notre-dame.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The alarm system was not designed to automatically notify the fire brigade, which was summoned at 18:51 after the guard had returned from the attic and reported a now-raging fire, and more than half an hour after the fire alarm had begun sounding.<ref name="nytimes20190419">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/world/europe/notre-dame-fire-safety.html|title=Notre-Dame's Safety Planners Underestimated the Risk, With Devastating Results|first1=Katrin |last1=Bennhold |first2=James |last2=Glanz|date=19 April 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=20 April 2019|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420012938/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/world/europe/notre-dame-fire-safety.html|archive-date=20 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Firefighters arrived in less than ten minutes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-notredame-firefighters/paris-firefighters-got-on-notre-dame-site-in-less-than-10-minutes-idUSKCN1RT1N7 |first=Inti |last=Landauro |title=Paris firefighters got on Notre-Dame site in less than 10 minutes |publisher=Reuters |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=23 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418104848/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-notredame-firefighters/paris-firefighters-got-on-notre-dame-site-in-less-than-10-minutes-idUSKCN1RT1N7 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The cathedral's flèche collapsed at 19:50, bringing down 750 tonnes of stone and lead. The firefighters inside were ordered down. By this time the fire had spread to the north tower, where the eight bells were. The firefighters concentrated their efforts in the tower. They feared that, if the bells fell, they could wreck the tower, and endanger the structure of the other tower and the whole cathedral. They had to ascend a stairway threatened by fire, and to contend with low water pressure for their hoses. As others watered the stairway and the roof, a team of 20 firefighters climbed the narrow stairway of the south tower, crossed to the north tower, lowered hoses to be connected to fire engines outside the cathedral, and sprayed water on the fire beneath the bells. By 21:45, they brought the fire under control.<ref name="New York Times 2019"/>

The main structure was intact; firefighters saved the façade, towers, walls, buttresses, and stained-glass windows. The stone vaulting that forms the ceiling of the cathedral had several holes but was otherwise intact.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notre Dame Cathedral Fire, Paris, France |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/15/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-paris-france-landmark-live-news |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415230652/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/15/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-paris-france-landmark-live-news |archive-date=15 April 2019 |access-date=15 April 2019 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> The Great Organ, which has over 8,000 [[Organ pipe|pipe]]s and was built by François Thierry in the 18th century, was also saved but damaged by water.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2019/04/21/715271953/after-the-flames-notre-dames-centuries-old-organ-may-never-be-the-same-again|last1=Garcia-Navarro|first1=Lulu|last2=Wharton|first2=Ned|title=After The Flames, Notre Dame's Centuries-Old Organ May Never Be The Same Again|date=21 April 2019|work=NPR|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144644/https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2019/04/21/715271953/after-the-flames-notre-dames-centuries-old-organ-may-never-be-the-same-again|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of the renovation, the copper statues on the flèche had been removed before the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2019 |title=Notre-Dame cathedral engulfed by fire |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-47942176 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415185203/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-47942176 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |access-date=15 April 2019 |website=BBC News}}</ref> About 500 firefighters helped to battle the fire, President [[Emmanuel Macron]] said. One firefighter was seriously injured and two police officers were hurt during the blaze.<ref>{{cite web|last=Diebelius|first=Georgia|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/firefighter-seriously-injured-battling-catastrophic-notre-dame-cathedral-blaze-9219156/|title=Firefighter and two police officers injured battling 'catastrophic' Notre-Dame fire|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro UK]]|date=15 April 2019|access-date=16 April 2019|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416111826/https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/firefighter-seriously-injured-battling-catastrophic-notre-dame-cathedral-blaze-9219156/|url-status=live}}</ref>

No [[Christmas Mass]] was held in 2019 for the first time in more than 200 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/no-christmas-mass-at-notre-dame-for-the-first-time-since-napoleon/article30394415.ece|title=No Christmas Mass at Notre-Dame for the first time since Napoleon|via=Reuters|date=25 December 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=26 December 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144728/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/no-christmas-mass-at-notre-dame-for-the-first-time-since-napoleon/article30394415.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The first cathedral choir performance since the fire took place in December 2020; only eight members sang because of [[COVID-19 pandemic]] restrictions. A video of the event aired just before midnight on 24 December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/notre-dame-choir-christmas-eve-concert-first-time-back-since-fire/|title=Notre Dame choir returns for first time since devastating fire for Christmas Eve concert|work=[[CBS News]]|via=Associated Press|date=25 December 2020|access-date=26 December 2020|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144312/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/notre-dame-choir-christmas-eve-concert-first-time-back-since-fire/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:NotreDame20190415QuaideMontebello (cropped).jpg|The 2019 fire destroyed Notre-Dame's wooden roof and flèche but left the outer structure largely intact.
File:Flèche en feu - Spire on Fire.jpeg|The flèche aflame during the 2019 fire, before its collapse
File:Notre Dame before and after 2019 fire.gif|Animation showing the south façade before and after the fire; scaffolding had been erected as part of renovations underway when the fire started
File:Paris and environs with routes from London to Paris handbook for travellers (1913) eingenordet.png|The area directly under the [[Crossing (architecture)|crossing]] and two other cells of vaulting collapsed
File:Notre Dame de Paris by dayV1.svg|In red, the destroyed parts
</gallery>

====Stabilisation of the building====
[[File:Notre Dame de Paris roof damage aerial.webm|thumb|The roof reduced to piles of char at the top of the mostly intact vaults]]

Immediately after the fire, Macron promised that Notre-Dame would be restored, and called for the work to be completed within five years.<ref>''Le Parisien'', 16 April 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Notre-Dame cathedral engulfed by fire|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-47942176|work=BBC News|date=15 April 2019|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415181717/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-47942176|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Latest: French leader vows to rebuild damaged Notre Dame|url=https://www.apnews.com/91d9711a9e5549109dd04d264e02b720|publisher=Associated Press|date=15 April 2019|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415215922/https://apnews.com/91d9711a9e5549109dd04d264e02b720|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/years-decades-uncertainty-over-time-needed-rebuild-notre-dame-doc-1fo84h1|title=Years? Decades? Uncertainty over time needed to rebuild Notre-Dame|website=AFP.com|date=16 January 2012|language=en|access-date=16 April 2019|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416122216/https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/years-decades-uncertainty-over-time-needed-rebuild-notre-dame-doc-1fo84h1|url-status=live}}</ref> An international architectural competition was announced to redesign the flèche and roof.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2019/apr/17/france-announces-architecture-competition-rebuild-notre-dames-spire|title=France announces contest to redesign Notre Dame spire|last=Henley|first=Jon|date=17 April 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144936/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2019/apr/17/france-announces-architecture-competition-rebuild-notre-dames-spire|url-status=live}}</ref> The announcement drew criticism in the international press from heritage academics and professionals who faulted the French government for being too focused on quickly building a new flèche, and neglecting to frame its response holistically as an inclusive social process encompassing the whole building and its long-term users.<ref>{{Cite news|title=In Notre Dame, we find a heritage that invites us to breathe and reflect: A spire competition is the wrong approach|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/comment/a-proustian-call-to-arms-on-notre-dame|last=Otero-Pailos|first=Jorge|date=19 April 2019|work=The Art Newspaper|access-date=13 May 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0960-6556|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811002952/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/comment/a-proustian-call-to-arms-on-notre-dame|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Notre Dame Should Be Rebuilt As It Was|url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/comment/notre-dame-should-be-rebuilt-as-it-was-says-a-former-director-of-unesco-s-world-heritage-centre|last=Bandarin|first=Francesco|date=30 April 2019|work=The Art Newspaper|access-date=13 May 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0960-6556|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506173223/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/comment/notre-dame-should-be-rebuilt-as-it-was-says-a-former-director-of-unesco-s-world-heritage-centre|url-status=live}}</ref> A new law was drafted to make Notre-Dame exempt from [[Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage|existing heritage laws and procedures]], which prompted an open letter to Macron signed by over 1,170 heritage experts urging respect for existing regulations.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Notre-Dame: 'Monsieur le président, ne dessaisissez pas les experts du patrimoine!'|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/societe/notre-dame-monsieur-le-president-ne-dessaisissez-pas-les-experts-du-patrimoine-20190428|last=Collective|first=Tribune|date=29 April 2019|work=Le Figaro|access-date=13 May 2019|language=fr|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512061701/http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/societe/notre-dame-monsieur-le-president-ne-dessaisissez-pas-les-experts-du-patrimoine-20190428|url-status=live}}</ref> The law, which passed on 11 May 2019, was hotly debated in the [[French National Assembly]], with opponents accusing Macron's administration of using Notre-Dame for political grandstanding, and defenders arguing the need for expediency and tax breaks to encourage philanthropic giving.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Le projet de loi pour la restauration de Notre-Dame adopté par l'Assemblée nationale: Ce projet de loi prévoit des dérogations aux règles d'urbanisme pour respecter le calendrier voulu par Emmanuel Macron|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2019/05/11/le-projet-de-loi-pour-la-restauration-de-notre-dame-adopte-par-l-assemblee-nationale_5460759_3224.html|last=Rescan|first=Manon|date=11 May 2019|work=Le Monde|access-date=13 May 2019|language=fr|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144312/https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2019/05/11/le-projet-de-loi-pour-la-restauration-de-notre-dame-adopte-par-l-assemblee-nationale_5460759_3224.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Macron suggested he was open to a "contemporary architectural gesture". Even before the competition rules were announced, architects around the world offered suggestions: the proposals included a {{convert|100|m|ft|adj=on}} flèche made of carbon fibre, covered with gold leaf; a roof built of stained glass; a greenhouse; a garden with trees, open to the sky; and a column of light pointed upwards. A poll published in the French newspaper ''Le Figaro'' on 8 May 2019 showed that 55% of French respondents wanted a flèche identical to the original. French culture minister [[Franck Riester]] promised that the restoration would not be hasty.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Glass, Golden Flames or a Beam of Light: What Should Replace Notre-Dame's Spire? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/arts/design/notre-dame-spire-designs.html |work=The New York Times |date=10 May 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |access-date=27 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002155441/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/arts/design/notre-dame-spire-designs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 July 2019, the French National Assembly enacted a law requiring that the restoration must "preserve the historic, artistic and architectural interest of the monument."<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |last=Bandarin |first=Francesco |date=2 August 2019 |title=New law regarding Notre Dame says restoration must preserve its 'historic, artistic and architectural interest' |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/analysis/it-s-official-the-new-notre-dame-will-look-like-the-old-notre-dame |work=[[The Art Newspaper]] |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419113932/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/analysis/it-s-official-the-new-notre-dame-will-look-like-the-old-notre-dame |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2019, the French government announced that the first stage of reconstruction, the stabilising of the structure against collapse, would last until the end of 2020. In December 2019, Monseigneur Patrick Chauvet, the rector of the cathedral, said there was still a 50% chance that Notre-Dame could not be saved due to the risk of the remaining scaffolding falling onto the three damaged vaults.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/475904-notre-dame-rector-sees-maybe-50-percent-chance-cathedral-can-be|title=Notre Dame rector sees 'maybe' 50 percent chance cathedral can be saved|first=Rebecca|last=Klar|date=25 December 2019|website=The Hill|access-date=27 December 2019|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227022546/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/475904-notre-dame-rector-sees-maybe-50-percent-chance-cathedral-can-be|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/12/25/notre-dame-cathedral-may-not-saved-after-fire/2745848001/|title=Notre Dame Cathedral, empty for Christmas, may never recover from devastating fire|first=John|last=Bacon|website=USA Today|access-date=27 December 2019|archive-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116010947/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/12/25/notre-dame-cathedral-may-not-saved-after-fire/2745848001/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reconstruction could not begin before early 2021. Macron announced that he hoped the reconstructed Cathedral could be finished in time for the opening of the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="RFIRecon">Radio France International, 10 October 2019.</ref>

The first task of the restoration was the removal of 250–300 tonnes of melted metal tubes, the remains of the scaffolding, which could have fallen onto the vaults and caused further structural damage. This began in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Builders back at Paris's Notre-Dame after COVID-19 shutdown|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200427-builders-back-at-paris-s-notre-dame-after-covid-19-shutdown|date=27 April 2020|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=5 May 2020|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502143531/https://www.france24.com/en/20200427-builders-back-at-paris-s-notre-dame-after-covid-19-shutdown|url-status=live}}</ref> A crane {{convert|84|m|ft}} high was put in place next to the cathedral to help remove the scaffolding.<ref>LCI News, 20 December 2019.</ref> The work was completed in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Incendie de Notre-Dame de Paris: le délicat démontage de l'échafaudage commence |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/06/08/incendie-de-notre-dame-de-paris-le-delicat-demontage-de-l-echafaudage-commence_6042105_3224.html |website=Le Monde |access-date=8 June 2020 |language=fr |date=8 June 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501073332/https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/06/08/incendie-de-notre-dame-de-paris-le-delicat-demontage-de-l-echafaudage-commence_6042105_3224.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Wooden support beams were added to stabilise the flying buttresses and other structures.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Notre Dame Fire: One Year Later|url=https://www.wsj.com/graphics/notre-dame-fix|date=2 April 2020|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en|access-date=10 March 2021|archive-date=24 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424045827/https://www.wsj.com/graphics/notre-dame-fix/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 April 2020, the archbishop of Paris, [[Michel Aupetit]], and a handful of participants, all in protective clothing to prevent exposure to lead dust, performed a [[Good Friday]] service inside the cathedral.<ref>{{Cite news|via= YouTube|publisher=[[KTO (TV channel)|KTO TV]]|date=10 April 2020|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QjFAYgmvcI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/2QjFAYgmvcI| archive-date=28 October 2021|title=Vénération de la Sainte Couronne d'épines à Notre-Dame de Paris|language=fr}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Music was provided by the violinist [[Renaud Capuçon]]; the lectors were the actors [[Philippe Torreton]] and [[Judith Chemla]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/vendredi-saint-a-notre-dame-a-quoi-servent-les-combinaisons-blanches-portees-par-les-artistes-1892252.html|publisher=[[BFM TV]]|title=Vendredi saint à Notre-Dame|date=10 April 2020|first=Salomé|last=Vincendon|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411142259/https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/vendredi-saint-a-notre-dame-a-quoi-servent-les-combinaisons-blanches-portees-par-les-artistes-1892252.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Chemla gave an [[a cappella]] rendition of ''[[Ave Maria]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSAFlbqgjfM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/XSAFlbqgjfM| archive-date=28 October 2021|title=L'émouvante interprétation de l'Ave Maria chanté par la comédienne Judith Chemla|website=BFM TV YouTube Channel|publisher=[[BFM TV]]|date=10 April 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====Heading reconstruction====
In February 2021, the selection of oak trees to replace the flèche and roof timbers destroyed by the fire began. A thousand mature trees were chosen from the forests of France, each of a diameter of {{convert|50|to|90|cm|in}} and a height of {{convert|8|to|14|m|ft}}, and an age of several hundred years. Once cut, the trees had to dry for 12 to 18 months. The trees were to be replaced by new plantings.<ref>{{cite news |title = A la recherche des chênes pour reconstruire la flêche de Notre-Dame |work = Le Figaro |date = 16 February 2021 |language=fr}}</ref> Two years after the fire, a news report stated that: "there is still a hole on top of the church. They're also building a replica of the church's spire". More oak trees needed to be shipped to Paris, where they would need to be dried before use.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 April 2021 |title=Two Years Later, Here's the Latest With Notre-Dame's Restoration |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/two-years-later-heres-latest-notre-dames-restoration/amp |access-date=15 April 2021 |website=Architectural Digest |quote=The selection of these first oaks trees is an important step on the road to the rebirth of the cathedral," says Dominique Jarlier, president of the National Federation of Forestry Municipalities. "It's part of a huge transformation. |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415053549/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/two-years-later-heres-latest-notre-dames-restoration/amp |url-status=live }}</ref> The oaks used to make the framework were tested and selected by [[Sylvatest]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 June 2022 |title=CBT: le contrôle non destructif du bois au service de son usage efficient |url=http://www.leboisinternational.com/premiere-transformation/exploitation-forestiere/cbt-le-controle-non-destructif-du-bois-au-service-de-son-usage-efficient-701246.php/?latest |access-date=5 October 2023 |website=www.leboisinternational.com |language=fr |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720200447/http://www.leboisinternational.com/premiere-transformation/exploitation-forestiere/cbt-le-controle-non-destructif-du-bois-au-service-de-son-usage-efficient-701246.php/?latest |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 September 2021, the public agency overseeing the Cathedral stated that the safety work was completed, the cathedral was fully secured, and that reconstruction would begin within a few months.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 September 2021|title=Notre-Dame Cathedral ready for restoration after post-fire safety work completed|url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210918-notre-dame-de-paris-ready-for-restauration-after-post-fire-security-works|access-date=19 September 2021|website=France 24|language=en|archive-date=28 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628183608/https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210918-notre-dame-de-paris-ready-for-restauration-after-post-fire-security-works|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Research====
In 2022, a preventive dig carried out between February and April before the construction of a scaffold for reconstructing the cathedral's flèche unearthed several statues and tombs under the cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willsher |first=Kim |date=14 April 2022 |title='Extraordinary': ancient tombs and statues unearthed beneath Notre Dame Cathedral |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/14/ancient-tombs-statues-notre-dame-cathedral-archaeological-dig |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en |location=Paris, France}}</ref> One of the discoveries was a 14th-century lead [[sarcophagus]] found {{cvt|65|feet|order=flip}} below where the [[transept]] crosses the church's 12th-century nave.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/a-mysterious-sarcophagus-discovered-beneath-notre-dame-will-soon-be-opened-1234625466/|first=Tessa|last=Solomon|date=15 April 2022|title=A Mysterious Sarcophagus Discovered Beneath Notre-Dame Will Soon Be Opened|work=ARTnews|archive-date=8 April 2024|access-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408224659/https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/a-mysterious-sarcophagus-discovered-beneath-notre-dame-will-soon-be-opened-1234625466/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 April 2022, France's [[National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research|National Preventive Archaeological Research Institute]] (Inrap) announced that the sarcophagus was extracted from the cathedral and that scientists had examined the casket using an endoscopic camera, revealing the upper part of a skeleton.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarcophagus-notre-dame-cathedral-mystery-opened/|date=14 April 2022|title=Mysterious sarcophagus found below fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral will soon be opened and its secrets revealed|work=CBS|archive-date=2 October 2023|access-date=19 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144729/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarcophagus-notre-dame-cathedral-mystery-opened/|url-status=live}}</ref> An opening was discovered below the cathedral floor, likely made around 1230 when the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] cathedral was first under construction; inside were fragments of a choir screen dating from the 13th century that had been destroyed in the early 18th century.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/sarcophagus-discovered-notre-dame-excavation-1234622138/|first=Tessa|last=Solomon|date=17 March 2022|title=700-Year-Old Sarcophagus Discovered Beneath Notre-Dame Cathedral|work=ARTnews|archive-date=2 October 2023|access-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144312/https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/sarcophagus-discovered-notre-dame-excavation-1234622138/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2023, archaeologists uncovered thousands of metal staples in various parts of the cathedral, some dating back to the early 1160s. The archaeologists concluded that "Notre Dame is now unquestionably the first known Gothic cathedral where iron was massively used to bind stones as a proper construction material."<ref>{{cite web |last=Cassella |first=Carly |date=19 March 2023 |title=Notre Dame's Fire Reveals a Major Surprise Hidden in Its Architecture |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/notre-dames-fire-reveals-a-major-surprise-hidden-in-its-architecture |website=[[ScienceAlert]] |access-date=12 April 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605123301/https://www.sciencealert.com/notre-dames-fire-reveals-a-major-surprise-hidden-in-its-architecture |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ouellette |first=Jennifer |date=5 January 2024 |title=Notre Dame cathedral first to use iron reinforcements in 12th century |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/notre-dame-cathedral-first-to-use-iron-reinforcements-in-12th-century/ |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us |archive-date=22 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122002228/https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/notre-dame-cathedral-first-to-use-iron-reinforcements-in-12th-century/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0280945 | doi-access=free | title=Notre-Dame de Paris: The first iron lady? Archaeometallurgical study and dating of the Parisian cathedral iron reinforcements | year=2023 | last1=l'Héritier | first1=Maxime | last2=Azéma | first2=Aurélia | last3=Syvilay | first3=Delphine | last4=Delqué-Kolic | first4=Emmanuelle | last5=Beck | first5=Lucile | last6=Guillot | first6=Ivan | last7=Bernard | first7=Mathilde | last8=Dillmann | first8=Philippe | journal=PLOS ONE | volume=18 | issue=3 | article-number=e0280945 | pmid=36920957 | pmc=10016711 | bibcode=2023PLoSO..1880945L }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">
File:Notre Dame Cathedral Renovation Feb 29,2020.jpg|Ongoing stabilization of Notre-Dame in February 2020
File:Notre Dame restoration long view Feb 29 2020.jpg|Stabilization of Notre-Dame and removal of roof debris and scaffolding in February 2020
File:Notre-Dame de Paris en 2023 et la grue du chantier.JPG|Front view of Notre-Dame in January 2023
File:Notre-Dame de Paris reconstruction.jpg|Southwest corner of Notre-Dame in September 2023
</gallery>

====Reopening====
{{main|Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris}}

[[File:Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris 2024 (4).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Reconstruction as of 2024]]The cathedral [[Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris|reopened]] on 7 December 2024 in a ceremony presided over by [[Laurent Ulrich]], the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris|Archbishop of Paris]], and attended by 1,500 world leaders and dignitaries such as [[Donald Trump|US President-elect Donald Trump]], [[Jill Biden|US first lady Jill Biden]], [[William, Prince of Wales|Britain's Prince William]], and [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy|Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]. [[Pope Francis]] declined an invitation from Macron to attend the reopening, holding a consistory in Rome to create 21 new cardinals on that day and planning a visit to the French island of [[Corsica]] the following week.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Adamson |first1=Thomas |last2=Leicester |first2=John |date=December 7, 2024 |title=An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-notre-dame-reopening-paris-macron-f2543dc70b4d89b256cde9aa53bbbd44 |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=Associated Press |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207133826/https://apnews.com/article/france-notre-dame-reopening-paris-macron-f2543dc70b4d89b256cde9aa53bbbd44 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241123-pope-to-skip-notre-dame-opening-for-corsica-visit|title=Pope to skip Notre Dame opening in Paris for Corsica visit|publisher=France 24|date=23 November 2024|access-date=23 November 2024|archive-date=27 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127233823/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241123-pope-to-skip-notre-dame-opening-for-corsica-visit|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Notre Dame. Paris 111256.webm|thumb|Interior view of Notre-Dame after restoration work]]

===Colour and controversy===
The colour of the restored interior would be "a shock" to some returning visitors, according to General [[Jean-Louis Georgelin]], the French army officer heading the restoration. "The whiteness under the dirt was quite spectacular".<ref>"The Art Newspaper", "Notre Dame's fresh interior—cleaned with controversial latex paste—will deliver a 'shock', restoration chief promises," 22 November 2022.</ref> The stone was sprayed with a latex solution to remove accumulated grime and soot. The cleaning of the church interior with latex solutions was criticised by Michael Daley of Artwatch UK, referring to the earlier cleaning of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in London. He asked, "Is there any good basis for wishing to present an artificially brightened and ahistorical white interior?"<ref>"Notre Dame's fresh interior—cleaned with controversial latex paste—will deliver a 'shock', restoration chief promises", "The Art Newspaper", 22 November 2022.</ref> Jean-Michel Guilemont of the French Ministry of culture responded, "The interior elevations will regain their original colour, since the chapels and side aisles were very dirty. Of course it is not a white colour. The stone has a blonde colour, and the architects are very attentive to obtaining a patina which respects the centuries".<ref>"The Art Newspaper", 22 November 2022.</ref>

===New window controversy===
[[File:Notre Dame, Paris, France - panoramio (47).jpg|thumb|right|St. Eloi Chapel window proposed for replacement by a modernist window]]
A new controversy arose in late 2024 over a proposal by French president Macron and the archbishop [[Laurent Ulrich]] to replace six stained glass windows installed in chapels in the 19th century by [[Viollet-le-Duc]] and undamaged by the fire, with six modernist windows designed by contemporary artist [[Claire Tabouret]]. Tabouret won a competition sponsored by the French government for a new window design. Her proposed windows are described as inclusive and representative of the modern world, intending to realistically depict people from different cultures and backgrounds praying together. The proposed windows are strongly opposed by preservationists, who want the cathedral to be restored exactly as it was before the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-18 |title=Qui est Claire Tabouret, la peintre qui réalisera les nouveaux vitraux de Notre-Dame ? |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/patrimoine/qui-est-claire-tabouret-la-peintre-qui-realisera-les-nouveaux-vitraux-de-notre-dame-20241218 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}</ref>

Furthermore, Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a museum dedicated to Notre-Dame within the [[Hôtel-Dieu, Paris|Hôtel-Dieu]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-08 |title=Notre-Dame de Paris: Emmanuel Macron annonce le lancement d'un concours de vitraux contemporains et la création d'un musée |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2023/12/08/notre-dame-de-paris-emmanuel-macron-annonce-le-lancement-d-un-concours-de-vitraux-contemporains-et-la-creation-d-un-musee_6204625_823448.html |access-date=2025-05-22 |work=Le Monde |language=fr}}</ref>

==Towers and the flèche==
{{main|Spire of Notre-Dame de Paris}}

The two towers are {{Convert|69|m|ft}} high. The towers were the last major element of the cathedral to be constructed. The south tower was built first, between 1220 and 1240, and the north tower between 1235 and 1250. The newer north tower is slightly larger, as can be seen when they are viewed from directly in front of the church. The ''contrefort'' or buttress of the north tower is also larger.<ref>Marcel Aubert, ''Notre-Dame de Paris : sa place dans l'histoire de l'architecture du xiie au xive siècle'', H. Laurens, 1920, p. 133. (in French).</ref> The cathedral's main peal of bells is within these towers.

The south tower is accessible to visitors by a stairway, whose entrance is on the south side of the tower. The stairway has 387 steps, and has a stop at the Gothic hall at the level of the rose window, where visitors could look over the parvis and see a collection of paintings and sculpture from earlier periods of the cathedral's history.

The cathedral's [[flèche (architecture)|flèche]] (or spirelet) was located over the transept. The original flèche was constructed in the 13th century, probably between 1220 and 1230. It was battered, weakened and bent by the wind over five centuries, and was removed in 1786. During the 19th-century restoration, Viollet-le-Duc recreated it, making a new version of oak covered with lead. The entire flèche weighed 750 tonnes.

The cockerel weathervane on top of the flèche has both a religious and political symbolism. The cockerel is the symbol of the French state, which since 1905 has owned Notre-Dame and the other 86 cathedrals in France. It is found over all French cathedrals, as well as over the entrance of the [[Elysée Palace]], the residence of the French president, on other government buildings, and on French postage stamps.

Following Viollet-le-Duc's plans, the flèche was surrounded by copper statues of the [[Twelve Apostles]]{{mdashb}}a group of three at each point of the compass. In front of each group is a symbol representing one of the four evangelists: a winged ox for Saint Luke,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catholicexchange.com/what-are-the-symbols-of-the-four-evangelists|last=Saunders|first=Father William|date=18 October 2019|title=What are the Symbols of the Four Evangelists?|work=[[Sophia Institute Press|Catholic Exchange]]|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527021025/https://catholicexchange.com/what-are-the-symbols-of-the-four-evangelists/|url-status=live}}</ref> a lion for Saint Mark, an eagle for Saint John and an angel for Saint Matthew. Just days prior to the fire, the statues were removed for restoration.<ref name="Buncombe">{{cite news |last1=Buncombe |first1=Andrew |title=Notre Dame's historic statues safe after being removed just days before massive fire |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-statues-renovation-apostles-evangelists-a8871586.html |access-date=15 April 2019 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415195451/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-statues-renovation-apostles-evangelists-a8871586.html |archive-date=15 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> While in place, they had faced outwards towards Paris, except one: the statue of Saint Thomas, the patron saint of architects, faced the flèche, and had the features of Viollet-le-Duc.

The cockerel weathervane at the top of the flèche contained three relics: a tiny piece from the [[Crown of Thorns]] in the cathedral treasury, and relics of Saint [[Saint Denis of Paris|Denis]] and [[Saint Genevieve]], patron saints of Paris. They were placed there in 1935 by Archbishop [[Jean Verdier]], to protect the congregation from lightning or other harm. The cockerel was recovered in the rubble shortly after the fire,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/04/18/rooster-from-notre-dame-spire-saved-from-rubble/|title=Notre Dame weathervane comes home to roost|date=18 April 2019|work=[[Catholic Herald]]|agency=[[Catholic News Agency]]|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418170935/https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/04/18/rooster-from-notre-dame-spire-saved-from-rubble/ |archive-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> and has since been on display inside the reopened cathedral.

The new flèche was put in place on 16 December 2023, and a new gilded cockerel sculpture, designed by architect Philippe Villeneuve, was also installed, containing the same relics as old flèche, as well as the names of two thousand people who had participated in the reconstruction. Getting to work, Villeneuve's team scrutinised the journal in which Viollet-le-Duc had entered all the details of Notre-Dame's 19th century restoration work.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sawa |first=Dale Berning |title='It was so fragile, we weren't certain it wouldn't collapse': the architect who sketched Notre Dame's ancient insides |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/dec/16/axelle-ponsonnet-carnet-de-chantier-ballade-dans-notre-dame |website=The Guardian |date=2024-12-16 |access-date=2025-04-04}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Notre Dame de Paris 2013-07-24.jpg|Towers on west façade (1220–1250)
File:The Rooftops of Notre Dame.jpg|The gallery of chimeras pictured in 1910 by [[Georges Redon]]
File:Flèche Notre-Dame de Paris.jpg|The 19th-century [[flèche (architecture)|flèche]]
File:Rooster on the spire of Notre Dame in Paris retusche.jpg|The cockerel [[reliquary]] at the top of the flèche. It was found lightly damaged in the rubble after the 2019 fire.
File:Spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, September 2013.jpg|The flèche from above, {{nobr|in 2013}}
File:Notre-Dame de Paris 086.jpg|Statue of [[Thomas the Apostle]], with the features of restorer Viollet-le-Duc, at the base of the flèche
</gallery>

==Iconography==
{{see also|List of sculptures in Notre-Dame de Paris}}

The Gothic cathedral was a ''[[Poor Man's Bible|liber pauperum]]'', a "poor people's book", covered with sculptures vividly illustrating biblical stories, for the vast majority of parishioners who were, at the time, illiterate. To add to the effect, all of the sculpture on the façades was originally painted and gilded.<ref name="ReferenceA">Viollet-le-Duc, Eugéne, ''Dictionnaire Raisonné de l'architecture Française du XIe au XVI siecle'', Volume 6. (Project Gutenburg).</ref>

The tympanum over the central portal on the west façade, facing the square, vividly illustrates the [[Last Judgment]], with figures of sinners being led off to hell, and good Christians taken to heaven. The sculpture of the right portal shows the coronation of the Virgin Mary, and the left portal shows the lives of saints who were important to Parisians, particularly [[Saint Anne]], the mother of the Virgin Mary.<ref>Renault and Lazé (2006), p. 35.</ref>

The exteriors of cathedrals and other Gothic churches were also decorated with sculptures of [[grotesque (architecture)|grotesques]] or monsters. These included the [[gargoyle]], the [[chimera (mythology)|chimera]], a mythical hybrid creature which usually had the body of a lion and the head of a goat, and the [[strix (mythology)|strix]] or stryge, a creature resembling an [[owl]] or [[bat]], which was said to eat human flesh. The strix appeared in classical Roman literature; it was described by the Roman poet [[Ovid]], who was widely read in the Middle Ages, as a large-headed bird with transfixed eyes, rapacious beak, and greyish white wings.<ref name="fasti">{{Cite web |title=P. Ovidius Naso, Fasti, book 6 |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi007.perseus-lat1:6 |access-date=27 April 2023 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu |at=VI. 131–, Riley (1851), p. 216, tr. |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009103627/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi007.perseus-lat1:6 |url-status=live }}</ref> They were part of the visual message for the illiterate worshipers, symbols of the evil and danger that threatened those who did not follow the teachings of the church.{{sfn|Wenzler|2018|pp=97–99}}

The [[gargoyle]]s, which were added about 1240, had a more practical purpose. They were the rain spouts of the cathedral, designed to divide the torrent of water which poured from the roof after rain, and to project it outwards as far as possible from the buttresses and the walls and windows where it might erode the mortar binding the stone. To produce many thin streams rather than a torrent of water, a large number of gargoyles were used, so they were also designed to be a decorative element of the architecture. The rainwater ran from the roof into lead gutters, then down channels on the flying buttresses, then along a channel cut in the back of the gargoyle and out of the mouth away from the cathedral.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Amid all the religious figures, some of the sculptural decoration was devoted to illustrating medieval science and philosophy. The central portal of the west façade is decorated with carved figures holding circular plaques with symbols of transformation taken from alchemy. The central pillar of the central door of Notre-Dame features a statue of a woman on a throne holding a [[sceptre]] in her left hand, and in her right hand, two books, one open (symbol of public knowledge), and the other closed (esoteric knowledge), along with a ladder with seven steps, symbolising the seven steps alchemists followed in trying to transform ordinary metals into gold.{{sfn|Wenzler|2018|pp=97–99}} On each side of the west façade, there are statues of [[Ecclesia and Synagoga]]. The statues represent [[supersessionism]], the Christian belief that Christianity has replaced Judaism.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jta.org/2015/03/20/archive/from-notre-dame-to-prague-europes-anti-semitism-is-literally-carved-in-stone |title=From Notre Dame to Prague, Europe's anti-Semitism is literally carved in stone |date=20 March 2015 |publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |access-date=29 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416193423/https://www.jta.org/2015/03/20/archive/from-notre-dame-to-prague-europes-anti-semitism-is-literally-carved-in-stone |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many of the statues, particularly the grotesques, were removed from the façade in the 17th and 18th centuries, or were destroyed during the French Revolution. They were replaced with figures in the Gothic style, designed by Viollet-le-Duc, during the 19th-century restoration.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - 10.jpg|Illustration of the [[Last Judgment]],<br />central portal of west façade
File:Paris - Cathédrale Notre-Dame - Portail de la Vierge - PA00086250 - 003.jpg|The martyr Saint [[Saint Denis of Paris|Denis]], holding his head, over the Portal of the Virgin
File:Notre-Dame de Paris - Portail de la Vierge - détail 01.jpg|The serpent tempts Adam and Eve; on the Portal of the Virgin
File:DevilCentralGateNotreDameParis.jpg|[[Michael (archangel)|Archangel Michael]] and Satan weighing souls during the [[Last Judgment]] (central portal, west façade)
File:Chimera of Notre-Dame de Paris, 26 April 2014.jpg|A [[strix (mythology)|strix]] on the west façade
File:Notre-Dame Rzygacze.JPG|[[Gargoyle]]s were the rainspouts of the cathedral
File:Gargoyle Point of View (3575829233).jpg|[[Chimera (mythology)|Chimera]] on the façade
File:Alegoría de la alquimia en Notre-Dame.jpg|Allegory of [[alchemy]], central portal
File:Ecclesia et synagoga.jpg|[[Ecclesia and Synagoga]], statues on each side of the west façade
</gallery>

==Stained glass==
The stained glass windows of Notre-Dame, particularly the three [[rose windows]], are among the most famous features of the cathedral. The west rose window, over the portals, was the first and smallest of the roses in Notre-Dame. It is {{convert|9.6|m|ft}} in diameter, and was made in about 1225, with the pieces of glass set in a thick circular stone frame. None of the original glass remains in this window; it was recreated in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/554234|title=West rose window of Notre Dame de Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral West Rose Window, Detail, Digital and Special Collections, Georgetown University Library|year=1981|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805233712/https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/554234|archive-date=5 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The two transept windows are larger and contain a greater proportion of glass than the rose on the west façade, because the new system of buttresses made the nave walls thinner and stronger. The north rose was created in about 1250, and the south rose in about 1260. The south rose in the transept is {{convert|12.9|m|ft}} in diameter; with the ''claire-voie'' surrounding it, a total of {{convert|19|m|ft}}. It was given to the cathedral by King [[Louis IX of France]], known as Saint Louis.<ref name="notredamedeparis">{{cite web |title=The South Rose – official site of Notre Dame de Paris |url=http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/linterieur/vitraux/rose-sud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803172023/http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/linterieur/vitraux/rose-sud/ |archive-date=3 August 2018 |access-date=3 August 2018 |language=fr}}</ref>

The south rose has 94 medallions, arranged in four circles, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and those who witnessed his time on earth. The inner circle has twelve medallions showing the twelve apostles. During later restorations, some of these original medallions were moved to circles farther out. The next two circles depict celebrated martyrs and virgins. The fourth circle shows twenty angels, and saints important to Paris, such as Saint [[Saint Denis of Paris|Denis]], [[Margaret the Virgin]] with a dragon, and [[Saint Eustace]]. The third and fourth circles also have some depictions of [[Old Testament]] subjects. The third circle has some medallions with scenes from the [[New Testament]] Gospel of Matthew which date from the last quarter of the 12th century. These are the oldest glass in the window.<ref name="notredamedeparis"/>

Additional scenes in the corners around the rose window include Jesus's [[The Harrowing of Hell|Descent into Hell]], [[Adam and Eve]], the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection of Christ]]. [[Saint Peter]] and [[Saint Paul]] are at the bottom of the window, and [[Mary Magdalene]] and [[John the Apostle]] at the top.

Above the rose was a window depicting Christ triumphant seated in the sky, surrounded by his [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]]. Below are sixteen windows with painted images of Prophets. These were painted during the restoration in the 19th century by Alfred Gérenthe, under the direction of [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]], based upon a similar window at [[Chartres Cathedral]].<ref name="notredamedeparis"/>

The south rose had a difficult history. In 1543 it was damaged by the settling of the masonry walls, and not restored until 1725–1727. It was seriously damaged in the [[French Revolution of 1830]]. Rioters burned the residence of the archbishop, next to the cathedral, and many of the panes were destroyed. The window was rebuilt by Viollet-le-Duc in 1861 who rotated it by fifteen degrees to give it a clear vertical and horizontal axis, and replaced the destroyed pieces of glass with new glass in the same style. The window now contains both medieval and 19th-century glass.
<ref name="notredamedeparis"/>

In the 1960s, after three decades of debate, it was decided to replace many of the 19th-century [[grisaille]] windows in the nave designed by Viollet-le-Duc with new windows. The new windows, made by [[Jacques Le Chevallier]], are without human figures and use abstract designs and colour to try to recreate the luminosity of the cathedral's interior in the 13th century.

The fire left the three great medieval rose windows mostly intact, but with some damage.<ref>''Le Figaro'', 17 April 2019.</ref> The rector of the cathedral noted that one rose window would have to be dismantled, as it was unstable and at risk.<ref name="huffpost"/> Most of the other damaged windows were of much less historical value.<ref name="huffpost">{{cite news |last1=Guyonnet |first1=Paul |title=Notre-Dame: Les vitraux des rosaces ont survécu à l'incendie |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry/notre-dame-vitraux-rosaces-incendie_fr_5cb58dece4b082aab08b55e0 |access-date=16 April 2019 |work=Huffington Post France |date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416123535/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/entry/notre-dame-vitraux-rosaces-incendie_fr_5cb58dece4b082aab08b55e0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early 2024 Macron proposed removing six of the seven undamaged 19th-century stained glass windows created by [[Eugene Viollet-le-Duc]] in the chapels along the south aisle of the nave, and replacing them with new windows with more contemporary designs. He invited contemporary artists to submit designs for the new windows. This proposal inspired a backlash in the press, and 140,000 people signed a petition to keep the old windows. The plan for contemporary windows was rejected by the French Commission on Architectural Monuments and Patrimony in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Binswanger |first=Julia |title=Plans to Install Contemporary Stained-Glass Windows in Notre-Dame Cathedral Spark Backlash |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plans-to-replace-notre-dames-stained-glass-windows-spark-backlash-180983541/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204042732/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plans-to-replace-notre-dames-stained-glass-windows-spark-backlash-180983541/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:2016-02-23 15-56-57 paris.jpg|The earliest rose window, on the west façade (about 1225)
File:Great_organ_of_Notre-Dame_de_Paris_2024_(8).jpg|The west rose window (about 1225)
File:Gothic-Rayonnant Rose-6.jpg|North rose window (about 1250)
File:Paris Cathédrale Notre-Dame Innen Südliche Rosette 1.jpg|North rose window including lower 18 vertical windows
</gallery>

==Burials and crypts==
{{hatnote|For the Archeological Crypt located outside of Notre-Dame, see [[Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II]].}}
{{Category see also|Burials at Notre-Dame de Paris}}
Unlike some other French cathedrals, Notre-Dame was originally constructed without a [[crypt]]. In the medieval period, burials were made directly into the floor of the church, or in above-ground [[Sarcophagus|sarcophagi]], some with [[Tomb effigy|tomb effigies]] (French: ''gisant''). High-ranking clergy and some royals were buried in the choir and apse, and many others, including lower-ranking clergy and lay people, were buried in the nave or chapels. There is no surviving complete record of the burials.

In 1699, many of the choir tombs were disturbed or covered over during a major renovation project. Remains which were exhumed were reburied in a common tomb beside the high altar. In 1711, a small crypt measuring about {{convert|6|by|6|m|ft|spell=in}} was dug out in the middle of the choir which was used as a burial vault for the archbishops, if they had not requested to be buried elsewhere. It was during this excavation that the 1st-century [[Pillar of the Boatmen]] was discovered.<ref>{{cite book |last=Busson |first=Didier |title=Carte archéologique de la Gaule: 75, Paris |date=1998 |publisher=Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |isbn=2-87754-056-1 |location=Paris, France |pages=445–446}}</ref> In 1758, three more crypts were dug in the Chapel of Saint-Georges to be used for burials of canons of Notre-Dame. In 1765, a larger crypt was built under the nave to be used for burials of canons, beneficiaries, chaplains, cantors, and choirboys. Between 1771 and 1773, the cathedral floor was repaved with black and white marble tiles, which covered over most of the remaining tombs. This prevented many of these tombs from being disturbed during the [[French Revolution]].

In 1858, the choir crypt was expanded to stretch most of the length of the choir. During this project, many medieval tombs were rediscovered. Likewise the nave crypt was also rediscovered in 1863 when a larger vault was dug out to install a vault heater. Many other tombs are also located in the chapels.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pénin|first=Marie Christine|title=Tombes et sepultures dans les cimetieres et autrex lieux|url=http://www.tombes-sepultures.com/crbst_816.html|access-date=1 January 2021|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530172641/https://www.tombes-sepultures.com/crbst_816.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Gueffier 1763.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">
File:Tombeau d'Eudes de Sully, détail.jpg|[[Eudes de Sully]] was the first bishop to be buried in Notre-Dame. His copper-covered sarcophagus was placed in the middle of the choir where it remained for almost five centuries.
File:1 Tomb in ambulatory, Notre Dame in Paris, ZM.JPG|The tomb of bishop Matifort (died 1304) located behind the high altar is the only surviving medieval funerary sculpture at Notre-Dame.
File:Relevé du caveau des archevêques de Paris dans le chœur de Notre-Dame.jpg|Burial vault under the choir of Notre-Dame, {{Circa|1746}}. Pictured left to right are the tombs of Archbishops [[Charles-Gaspard-Guillaume de Vintimille du Luc|Vintimille]] and [[Jacques Bonne-Gigault de Bellefonds|Bellefonds]], the funerary urn of Archbishop [[Louis Antoine de Noailles|Noailles]], and two unidentified tombs.
File:Chapelle Saint Denis, Notre Dame.jpg|The tomb of [[Denis Auguste Affre|Archbishop Affre]] (1793–1848) in the Chapel of Saint-Denis. The sculpture depicts the archbishop's mortal wounding during the [[June Days uprising]] while holding an olive branch as a sign of peace. The inscription reads ''Puisse mon sang être le dernier versé!'' ("May my blood be the last shed!").
</gallery>

==Great organ==
[[File:Great_organ_of_Notre-Dame_de_Paris_2024_(5).jpg|thumb|upright|The great organ]]

One of the earliest [[Pipe organ|organs]] at Notre-Dame was built in 1403 by Frédéric Schambantz. It was rebuilt many times over the course of 300 years; however, twelve pipes and some wood survive from Schambantz. It was replaced between 1730 and 1738 by [[François Thierry]], then once again rebuilt by [[François-Henri Clicquot]]. During the mid-19th-century restoration of the cathedral by [[Eugène Viollet-le-Duc]], [[Aristide Cavaillé-Coll]] used pipework from earlier instruments to build a new organ, which was dedicated in 1868.

In 1904, Charles Mutin modified and added several [[Organ stop|stop]]s upon the suggestions of titular organist [[Louis Vierne]]. In 1924, the installation of an electric blower was financed by [[Rolls-Royce]] CEO [[Claude Johnson]]. An extensive restoration and cleaning was carried out by Joseph Beuchet in 1932 which mostly included changes to the Récit. Between 1959 and 1963, the mechanical action with [[Barker lever]]s was replaced with an electric action by Jean Hermann, and a new organ console was installed.

The stoplist was gradually modified by Robert Boisseau, who in 1968 added three [[En chamade|chamade stop]]s (8′, 4′, and 2′/16′) and by Jean-Loup Boisseau after 1975, all upon the orders of [[Pierre Cochereau]]. In autumn 1983, the electric combination system was disconnected due to short-circuit risk.

Between 1990 and 1992, Jean-Loup Boisseau, Bertrand Cattiaux, Philippe Émeriau, Michel Giroud, and the Société Synaptel revised and augmented the instrument. A new frame for the Jean Hermann console was created. Between 2012 and 2014, Bertrand Cattiaux and Pascal Quoirin restored, cleaned, and modified the organ. The stop and key action was upgraded, a new frame for selected components of the Hermann-Boisseau-Cattiaux console was created, a new enclosed division ("Résonnance expressive", using pipework from the former "Petite Pédale" by Boisseau, which can now be used as a floating division), the organ case and the façade pipes were restored, and a general tuning was carried out. The current organ has 115 stops (156 ranks) on five manuals and pedal, and more than 8,000 [[Organ pipe|pipes]].

In addition to the great organ in the west end, the quire of the cathedral carries a medium-sized choir organ of 2 manuals, 30 stops and 37 ranks in a nineteenth-century case from the 1960s. During the fire of 2019, it was heavily damaged by waterlogging, but is at least partially reusable. It also had a 5-stop single-manual continuo organ, which was completely destroyed by water from firefighters.

The great organ itself suffered minimal damage (mostly to a single pipe of the Principal 32' and substantial dust) in the fire of April 2019 and underwent maintenance for cleaning and tuning. It was formally reblessed in 2024.
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 98%;"
! scope="col" | I. Grand-Orgue<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | II. Positif<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | III. Récit<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | IV. Solo<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | V. Grand-Chœur<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | Résonnance expressive<br />C–g{{sup|3}}
! scope="col" | Pédale<br />C–f{{sup|1}}(keys go to g1, but f#1 and g1 silent)
|-
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Violon-Basse 16
                                 | Bourdon 16
                                 | Montre 8
                                 | Viole de Gambe 8
                                 | Flûte harmonique 8
                                 | Bourdon 8
                                 | Prestant 4
                                 | Octave 4
                                 | Doublette 2
                                 | Fourniture harmonique II-V 4
                                 | Cymbale harmonique II-V 2 2/3
                                 | Bombarde 16
                                 | Trompette 8
                                 | Clairon 4
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | '''Chamades:'''
                                 | Chamade 8
                                 | Chamade 4
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | ''Chamade Recit 8''
                                 | ''Cornet Recit V (from c)''
                                 }}
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Montre 16
                                 | Bourdon 16
                                 | Salicional 8
                                 | Flûte harmonique 8
                                 | Bourdon 8
                                 | Unda maris 8 (from c)
                                 | Prestant 4
                                 | Flûte douce 4
                                 | Nazard {{frac|2|2|3}}
                                 | Doublette 2
                                 | Tierce {{frac|1|3|5}}
                                 | Fourniture V
                                 | Cymbale V
                                 | Clarinette basse 16
                                 | Clarinette 8
                                 | Clarinette aiguë 4
                                 }}
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | '''Récit expressif:'''
                                 | Quintaton 16
                                 | Diapason 8
                                 | Flûte traversière 8
                                 | Viole de Gambe 8
                                 | Bourdon céleste 8 (from c)
                                 | Voix céleste 8 (from c)
                                 | Octave 4
                                 | Flûte Octaviante 4
                                 | Quinte {{frac|2|2|3}}
                                 | Octavin 2
                                 | Bombarde 16
                                 | Trompette 8
                                 | Basson-Hautbois 8
                                 | Clarinette 8
                                 | Voix humaine 8
                                 | Clairon 4
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | '''Récit classique:''' (from f)
                                 | Cornet V 8
                                 | Hautbois 8
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | '''Chamades:'''
                                 | Basse Chamade 8
                                 | Dessus Chamade 8
                                 | Chamade 4
                                 | Chamade Régale 8
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | ''Basse Chamade GO 8''
                                 | ''Dessus Chamade GO 8''
                                 | ''Chamade GO 4''
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | Trémolo
                                 }}
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Bourdon 32 (lowest octave acoustic)
                                 | Principal 16
                                 | Montre 8
                                 | Flûte harmonique 8
                                 | Quinte {{frac|5|1|3}}
                                 | Prestant 4
                                 | Tierce {{frac|3|1|5}}
                                 | Nazard {{frac|2|2|3}}
                                 | Septième {{frac|2|2|7}}
                                 | Doublette 2
                                 | Cornet II-V 2 2/3
                                 | Grande Fourniture II 2 2/3
                                 | Fourniture V
                                 | Cymbale V
                                 | Cromorne 8
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | ''Chamade GO 8''
                                 | ''Chamade GO 4''
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | ''Cornet Récit V''
                                 | ''Hautbois Récit 8 (above stops: f-g3, outside swell box)''
                                 }}
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Principal 8
                                 | Bourdon 8 *
                                 | Prestant 4 *
                                 | Quinte {{frac|2|2|3}} *
                                 | Doublette 2 *
                                 | Tierce {{frac|1|3|5}} *
                                 | Larigot {{frac|1|1|3}}
                                 | Septième {{frac|1|1|7}}
                                 | Piccolo 1
                                 | Plein jeu III-V 2/3
                                 | Cornet V (= *)
                                 | Tuba magna 16
                                 | Trompette 8
                                 | Clairon 4
                                 }}Cornet V 8

''(pulls out stops with asterisks)''
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Bourdon 16
                                 | Principal 8
                                 | Bourdon 8
                                 | Prestant 4
                                 | Flûte 4
                                 | Neuvième {{frac|3|5|9}}
                                 | Tierce {{frac|3|1|5}}
                                 | Onzième {{frac|2|10|11}}
                                 | Nazard {{frac|2|2|3}}
                                 | Flûte 2
                                 | Tierce {{frac|1|3|5}}
                                 | Larigot {{frac|1|1|3}}
                                 | Flageolet 1
                                 | Fourniture III
                                 | Cymbale III
                                 | Basson 16
                                 | Basson 8
                                 | Voix humaine 8
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | Chimes
                                 | Tremblant
                                 }}
| style="vertical-align: top;" | {{ubl
                                 | Principal 32
                                 | Contrebasse 16
                                 | Soubasse 16
                                 | Quinte {{frac|10|2|3}}
                                 | Flûte 8
                                 | Violoncelle 8
                                 | Tierce {{frac|6|2|5}}
                                 | Quinte {{frac|5|1|3}}
                                 | Septième {{frac|4|4|7}}
                                 | Octave 4
                                 | Contre-Bombarde 32
                                 | Bombarde 16
                                 | Basson 16
                                 | Trompette 8
                                 | Basson 8
                                 | Clairon 4
                                 | &nbsp;
                                 | ''Chamade GO 8''
                                 | ''Chamade GO 4''
                                 | ''Chamade Récit 8''
                                 | ''Chamade Récit 4''
                                 |''Régale 2/16''
                                 }}
|}

'''Couplers''': II/I, III/I, IV/I, V/I; III/II, IV/II, V/II; IV/III, V/III; V/IV, Octave grave général, inversion Positif/Grand-orgue, Tirasses (Grand-orgue, Positif, Récit, Solo, Grand-Chœur en 8; Grand-Orgue en 4, Positif en 4, Récit en 4, Solo en 4, Grand-Chœur en 4), Sub and Super octave couplers and Unison Off for all manuals (Octaves graves, octaves aiguës, annulation 8′); ''octaves aiguës Pédalier''

'''Additional features''': ''Coupure Pédalier''; ''Coupure Chamade;'' ''Appel Résonnance;'' s''ostenuto'' for all manuals and the pedal; cancel buttons for each division; 50,000 combinations (5,000 groups each); replay system

===Organists===
The position of titular organist ("head" or "chief" organist; French: ''titulaires des grandes orgues'') of the great organ of Notre-Dame is considered one of the most prestigious organist posts in France, along with the post of titular organist of [[Saint-Sulpice (Paris)|Saint Sulpice]] in Paris, [[Aristide Cavaillé-Coll|Cavaillé-Coll's]] largest instrument.

After the death of Pierre Cochereau, the cathedral authorities controversially decided to return to the Clicquot practice of having several titulaires, and also to guarantee that no one organist would have so much influence over the organ.
{{cols|colwidth=16em}}
* {{ill| Guillaume Maingot|fr}} (1600–1609)
* {{ill|Jacques Petitjean|fr|Jacques Petitjean (organiste)}} (1609–1610)
* {{ill|Charles Thibault|fr|Charles Thibault (organiste)}} (1610–1616)
* [[Charles Racquet]] (1618–1643)
* {{ill|Jean Racquet|fr}} ({{Circa|1643}}–1689)
* {{ill|Médéric Corneille|fr}} (1689–1730)
* [[Guillaume-Antoine Calvière]] (1730–1755)
* [[René Drouart de Bousset]] (1755–1760)
* {{ill|Charles-Alexandre Jollage|fr}} (1755–1761)
* [[Louis-Claude Daquin]] (1755–1772)
* [[Armand-Louis Couperin]] (1755–1789)
* [[Claude Balbastre]] (1760–1793)
* [[Pierre-Claude Foucquet]] (1761–1772)
* [[Nicolas Séjan]] (1772–1793)
* {{ill|Claude-Étienne Luce|fr}} (1772–1783)
* [[Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet Charpentier]] (1783–1793)
* {{ill|Antoine Desprez|fr}} (1802–1806)
* {{ill|François Lacodre dit Blin|fr}} (1806–1834)
* {{ill|Joseph Pollet (organist)|fr|Joseph Pollet|lt=Joseph Pollet}} (1834–1840)
* [[Félix Danjou]] (1840–1847)
* {{ill|Eugène Sergent|fr}} (1847–1900)
* [[Louis Vierne]] (1900–1937)
* [[Léonce de Saint-Martin]] (1937–1954)
* [[Pierre Cochereau]] (1955–1984)
* [[Yves Devernay]] (1985–1990)
* [[Jean-Pierre Leguay]] (1985–2015)
* [[Philippe Lefebvre (organist)|Philippe Lefebvre]] (1985–2019)
* [[Olivier Latry]] (since 1985)
* {{ill|Vincent Dubois (organiste)|lt=Vincent Dubois|fr}} (since 2016)
* [[Thierry Escaich]] (since 2024)
* Thibault Fajoles (assistant organist, since 2024)
{{colend}}

==Bells==
{{main|Bells of Notre-Dame de Paris}}

[[File:ND G1 Emmanuel.ogg|thumb|Emmanuel's volley solo]]
Notre-Dame currently has ten [[bell]]s. The two [[Bourdon (bell)|largest bells]], Emmanuel and Marie, are mounted in the south tower. The eight others; Gabriel, Anne Geneviève, Denis, Marcel, Étienne, Benoît-Joseph, Maurice, and Jean-Marie; are mounted in the north tower. In addition to accompanying regular activities at the cathedral, the bells have also rung to commemorate events of national and international significance, such as the [[armistice of 11 November 1918]], the [[liberation of Paris]], the [[fall of the Berlin Wall]], and the [[September 11 attacks]].

The bells are made with [[Bell metal|bronze]] for its resonance and resistance to corrosion. During the medieval period, they were often [[Bellfounding|founded]] on the grounds of the cathedral so they would not need to be transported long distances.<ref>Follett 2019, pp. 24–25.</ref> According to tradition, the bishop of Paris held a ceremony in which he [[Church bell#Blessing of bells|blessed and baptized]] the bells, and a godparent formally bestowed a name on the bell. Most of the cathedral's early bells were named after the person who donated them, but they were also named after biblical figures, saints, bishops, and others.

After the baptism, the bells were hoisted into the towers through circular openings in the vaulted ceilings and mounted to headstocks to allow the bells to swing. Notre-Dame's bells swing on a straight swinging axis, meaning the axis of rotation is just above the crown of the bell. This style of ringing produces a clearer tone, as the clapper strikes the bell on the upswing, called a flying clapper. It also causes horizontal forces, which can be up to one and a half times the weight of the bell.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lehr|first1=André|translator-last1=Schafer|translator-first1=Kimberly|year=2005|title=Campanology Textbook|url=https://communitybelladvocates.com/the-physics-of-swinging-bells/|language=German|pages=70–71|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125050551/https://communitybelladvocates.com/the-physics-of-swinging-bells/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> For this reason the bells are mounted within wooden [[Belfry (architecture)|belfries]] which are recessed from the towers' stone walls. These absorb the horizontal forces and prevent the bells from damaging the relatively brittle stonework.<ref name="Sandron">Sandron 2005.</ref> The current belfries date to the 19th-century restoration.

Before the French Revolution, it was common for the bells to break, and they were often removed for repairs or to be entirely recast, and sometimes renamed. The bell Guillaume, for example, was renamed three times and recast five times between 1230 and 1770.

The practice of bell-ringing at Notre-Dame is recorded as early as 1198.<ref name="Sandron"/> By the end of the 14th century the bells were marking the civil hours, and in 1472 they began to call to prayer for the [[Angelus]] three times a day, both practices which continue today. During the French Revolution, most of the cathedral's bells were removed and melted down. Many of them bore the names of the medieval bells, and were relatively recent recastings made from most of the same metal. During the 19th-century restoration, four new bells were made for the north tower. These were replaced in 2012 with nine as part of the cathedral's 850th anniversary celebration.

In addition to the main bells, the cathedral also had smaller secondary bells. These included a [[carillon]] in the medieval flèche, three clock bells on the north transept in the 18th century, and six bells added in the 19th century – three in the reconstructed flèche and three within the roof to be heard in the sanctuary.<ref>Doré 2012, pp. 200–208.</ref> These were destroyed during the 2019 fire.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">
File:Notre-dame-de-paris-vue-interieure-salle-nord.jpg|Circular utility door (right of center) in the ceiling below the north tower made for raising and lowering bells<ref name="Sandron"/>
File:Bourdon Emmanuel in 2016 (36378821523).jpg|The bourdon Emmanuel, Notre-Dame's largest and oldest bell, cast in 1686<ref>Doré 2012, p. 203.</ref>
File:Encyclopedie volume 4-176pl7 (2).jpg|1767 illustration of a bell headstock and mounting components (left) and Notre-Dame's original south belfry (right)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Fonte des cloches |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopédie]] |publisher=Chez Briasson, David, Le Breton |location=Paris |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A9die_-_Planches_-_Volume_4#Fonte_des_cloches |date=1767 |editor-last=Diderot |editor-first=Denis |editor-link=Denis Diderot |volume=Planches 4 |language=Fr |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005113501/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A9die_-_Planches_-_Volume_4#Fonte_des_cloches |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|Notre-Dame's belfry was used as the model for this diagram. The stonework, however, was not drawn to be accurate. See Billon 1821, p. 148 and Doré 2012, p. 203.}}
File:Coupe.beffroi.cathedrale.Paris.2.png|1854 illustration by Pégard showing the 1850 belfry which is present today<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française du XIe au XVIe siècle/Beffroi – Wikisource |url=https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionnaire_raisonn%C3%A9_de_l%E2%80%99architecture_fran%C3%A7aise_du_XIe_au_XVIe_si%C3%A8cle/Beffroi |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=fr.wikisource.org |page=193 |language=fr |archive-date=31 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831065759/https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionnaire_raisonn%C3%A9_de_l%E2%80%99architecture_fran%C3%A7aise_du_XIe_au_XVIe_si%C3%A8cle/Beffroi |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Anciennes cloches de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris le 6 août 2014 - 02.jpg|The four 19th-century bells which were retired in 2012
File:Notre-Dame de Paris - Les nouvelles cloches - 001.jpg|Nine new bells exhibited in the nave in February 2013
File:Bourdon Marie.JPG|The second bourdon Marie mounted in the south belfry
</gallery>

==Clock==
{{see also|Bells of Notre-Dame de Paris#Striking clock}}
[[File:3h20.jpg|thumb|One of four clock faces of Notre-Dame's 19th-century clock (right). Chimes for the 18th-century clock were once held in a north transept turret, similar to the one pictured left on the south transept.]]
The first clocks used at Notre-Dame were [[Water clock|clepsydras]]. These were used to tell the hours, which were marked by striking bells. In the 14th century Notre-Dame had two clepsydras running simultaneously, one in the cloister and one in the church itself. A lay chamberlain was responsible for keeping the clocks filled with water and to notify a churchwarden when it was time to strike the bells for the hour.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sandron |first1=Dany |last2=Tallon |first2=Andrew |date=2020 |title=Notre Dame Cathedral: Nine Centuries of History |location=University Park, Pennsylvania, US |publisher=The Pennsylvania University Press |page= <!-- or pages= --> }}</ref>

In 1766, Guillot de Montjoye and Jean-Bernard de Vienne, canons and stewards of the [[Fabrica ecclesiae|church fabric]], donated a mechanical clock to the cathedral. The [[Movement (clockwork)|movement]] was installed in a glass cabinet in the gallery beneath the north rose window and rang three bells outside above the north portal. Between 1812 and 1813, the clock and bells were moved to the north tower. A {{convert|1.34|m|ft|adj=on}} clock face was installed inside the church below the organ platform.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gilbert |first=Antoine P.M. |date=1821 |title=Description historique de la Basilique métropolitaine de Paris: ornée de gravures |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f645AAAAcAAJ |location=Paris |publisher=Chez Adrien Le Clere, Imprimeur de S. Em. Mgr. le Cardinal Archeveque de Paris, quai des Augustins, no. 35 |page=151}}</ref>

During Viollet-le-Duc's restoration in the 19th century, a new clock was made. The 1867 Collin-Wagner movement, measuring {{convert|2|m|ft|spell=in}} across, was located in the forest underneath the [[Spire of Notre-Dame de Paris|central flèche]] within a glass-enclosed room. This controlled four dormer clock faces visible on the transept roofs, two on each side. This clock was destroyed by the 2019 fire. Shortly after the fire, French clockmaker Jean-Baptiste Vior discovered an almost identical 1867 Collin-Wagner movement in storage at [[Sainte-Trinité, Paris|Sainte-Trinité Church]] in northern Paris. Olivier Chandez, who had been responsible for the upkeep of Notre-Dame's clock, described the find as "almost a miracle." The clock cannot be installed in Notre-Dame, but it was hoped that the clock could be used to create a new clock for Notre-Dame to the same specifications as the one which was destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/replica-clock-find-sparks-hope-for-notre-dame-restoration/ |title=Replica clock find sparks hope for Notre-Dame restoration |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=26 June 2019 |website=CTV News |publisher=AFP News Agency |access-date=7 June 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144609/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/replica-clock-find-sparks-hope-for-notre-dame-restoration-1.4482953 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date =25 June 2019 |title =Watchmaker finds model to replace Notre-Dame's destroyed clock |medium =Online video |language =fr, en |url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cES2QL1rbhI |access-date =7 June 2020 |publisher =AFP News Agency |archive-date =2 October 2023 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20231002144644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cES2QL1rbhI |url-status =live }}</ref>{{update-inline|date=December 2024}}

==Ownership==
Until the French Revolution, Notre-Dame was the property of the archbishop of Paris and therefore the [[Catholic Church]]. It was nationalized on 2 November 1789 and since then has been the property of the French state.<ref>{{cite news|title=À qui appartient la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris?|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/aqui-appartient-la-cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris-1674259.html|date=16 April 2019|work=[[BFM TV]]|language=fr|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526074514/https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/aqui-appartient-la-cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris-1674259.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the Concordat of 1801, use of the cathedral was returned to the Church, but not ownership. Legislation from 1833 and 1838 clarified that cathedrals were maintained at the expense of the French government. This was reaffirmed in [[1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State|the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State]], designating the Catholic Church as having the exclusive right to use it for religious purposes in perpetuity. Notre-Dame is one of seventy historic churches in France with this status. The archdiocese is responsible for paying the employees, for security, heating and cleaning, and for ensuring that the cathedral is open free of charge to visitors. The archdiocese does not receive subsidies from the French state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Loi du 9 décembre 1905 concernant la séparation des Eglises et de l'Etat.|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006070169&dateTexte=20080306|language=fr|publisher=Government of France|access-date=29 April 2019|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005110109/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006070169&dateTexte=20080306|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Communique of the Press and Communication Service of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Paris, November 2014.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="210">
File:Notre Dame Catherdral.jpg|During reconstruction following the fire
File:Notre-Dame - Eglise Cathédrale de Paris 2.jpg|Notre-Dame at the end of the 19th century
File:Henri Le Secq near a Gargoyle.jpg|An 1853 photo by [[Charles Nègre]] of [[Henri Le Secq]] next to [[Strix (mythology)|Le Stryge]]
File:Paris - Cathédrale Notre-Dame - Trésor de la cathédrale - Ornements sacerdotaux -3.JPG|19th-century [[vestments]]
File:Notre-dame-looking-up-np.jpg|A wide angle view of Notre-Dame's western façade
File:Notre Dame Paris front facade lower.jpg|Notre-Dame's [[façade]] showing the Portal of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin]], Portal of the [[Last Judgment]], and Portal of [[Saint Anne|St-Anne]]
File:Notre dame view from Montparnasse Tower.jpg|A 2010 view of Notre-Dame from [[Tour Montparnasse]]
File:Notre Dame de Paris.JPG|A wide angle view of Notre-Dame's western façade
File:Madonna_and_Child_dit_Notre-Dame_de_Paris_2024_(32).jpg |[[Virgin of Paris|Virgin of the pillar]], 14th century. The Statue of ''Virgin and Child'' inside Notre-Dame de Paris
File:Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris maitre-autel.jpg|Notre-Dame's high altar with the kneeling statues of [[Louis XIII]] and [[Louis XIV]]
File:Rose du transept Sud Notre-Dame de Paris 170208 04.jpg|South [[rose window]] of Notre-Dame
File:Notre Dame buttress.jpg|[[Flying buttress]]es of Notre-Dame
File:050903 Paris 052 NotreDame memoriaInglesi.JPG|[[Memorial tablets to the British Empire dead of the First World War|Memorial tablet to the British Empire dead of the First World War]]
File:Notre-Dame de Paris, Tympanum of of the Last Judgment.jpg|[[Tympanum (architecture)|Tympanum]] of the [[Last Judgment]]
File:Joan of Arc-Notre Dame.jpg|[[Statue]] of [[Joan of Arc]] in Notre-Dame's interior
File:Close look of the details on the Tympanum of the Last Judgment.jpg|Close look of the details on the Tympanum of the Last Judgment (2016)
File:Facade of Notre-Dame de Paris - 2018-06-23.jpg|Façade of Notre-Dame
File:Point Zéro des Routes de France (1).JPG|French road system's ''Point Zéro'' spot on the ground in front of Notre-Dame (since 1924)
File:Notre Dame Paris Goldener Schnitt.png|Characteristics of the [[Golden ratio]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|France|Catholicism|Architecture}}
* [[Archbishop's Palace of Paris]], destroyed 1831
* [[Architecture of Paris]]
* [[List of tourist attractions in Paris]]
* [[Gothic cathedrals and churches]]
* [[List of destroyed heritage]]
* [[List of Gothic cathedrals in Europe]]
* [[List of historic churches in Paris]]
* [[List of tallest buildings and structures in the Paris region]]
* [[Musée de Notre Dame de Paris]]
* [[Notre-Dame du Calvaire, Paris]]
* [[Catholic Marian church buildings]]
* [[Notre Dame de Roscudon Church]]

==Notes==
===Footnotes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{cols|colwidth=26em}}
{{Reflist}}
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|indent=yes}}
===English-language===
* {{cite journal|last=Bruzelius|first=Caroline|author-link=Caroline Bruzelius|title=The Construction of Notre-Dame in Paris|journal=[[The Art Bulletin]]|volume=69|issue=4|pages=540–569|date=December 1987|jstor=3050998|doi=10.1080/00043079.1987.10788458}}
* Davis, Michael T. "Splendor and Peril: The Cathedral of Paris, 1290–1350." ''The Art Bulletin'' (1998) 80#1 pp: 34–66.
* {{cite book|last=Herrick|first=James A.|author-link=James A. Herrick|title=The Making of the New Spirituality|year=2004|publisher=InterVarsity Press|isbn=0-8308-3279-3}}
* {{cite journal|last=Inglis|first=Erik|title=Gothic Architecture and a Scholastic: Jean de Jandun's Tractatus de laudibus Parisius|year=2003|journal=[[Gesta (journal)|Gesta]]|volume=42|issue=XLII/1|pages=63–85|jstor=25067075|doi=10.2307/25067075|s2cid=190312592}}
* Jacobs, Jay, ed. ''The Horizon Book of Great Cathedrals''. New York City: American Heritage Publishing, 1968
* Janson, H. W. ''History of Art''. 3rd Edition. New York City: [[Harry N. Abrams, Inc.]], 1986
*{{cite book|last=Follett|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Follett|date=2019|title=Notre-Dame: a short history of the meaning of cathedrals|location=New York|publisher=Viking|isbn=978-1-9848-8025-3}}
* Myers, Bernard S. ''Art and Civilization''. New York City: [[McGraw-Hill]], 1957
* {{cite book |last=Riley |first=Henry T. |year=1851 |title=The fasti; Tristia; Pontic epistles; Ibis; and, Halieuticon of Ovid |location=London |publisher=H.G. Bohn |lccn=2010554460}}
* {{cite book|last1=Sandron|first1=Dany|last2=Tallon|first2=Andrew|author-link2=Andrew Tallon|translator-last1=Cook|translator-first1=Lindsay|translator-last2=Tallon|translator-first2=Andrew|year=2013|title=Notre Dame Cathedral: Nine Centuries of History|location=University Park, Pennsylvania|publisher=The Pennsylvania State University Press|publication-date=5 April 2020|isbn=978-0-271-08622-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Stone|first=Daniel|title=The Polish–Lithuanian State, 1386–1795|year=2001|publisher=University of Washington Press|isbn=0-295-98093-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFgB_l4SdHAC&pg=PA119T}}
* {{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Paul|title=Gothic Sculpture, 1140–1300|publisher=Yale University Press|year=1995|isbn=978-030006-338-7|oclc=469571482|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gothicsculpture100will}}
* Wright, Craig. ''Music and ceremony at Notre Dame of Paris, 500–1550'' (Cambridge University Press, 2008)

===French-language===
* {{cite book|last=Billon|first=Jean-Baptiste-Benjamin|date=1866|title=Campanologie: Étude sur les Cloches et les Sonneries Françaises et Étrangères|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNtGM8effCMC|location=Caen|publisher=F. Le Blanc-Hardel|pages=111–113}}
* {{cite journal|last=Cabezas|first=Hervé|title=Du "vitrail archéologique"|journal=Revue d'archéologie moderne et d'archéologie générale|volume=6|year=1988}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Delisle|editor-first=Léopold|title=Chronique de Robert de Torigni, abbé du Mont-Saint-Michel|year=1873|publisher=Le Brument}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Doré|editor1-first=Joseph|title=Notre-Dame de Paris|series=La grâce d'une cathédrale|year=2012|location=Strasbourg|publisher=La Nuée Bleue|publication-date=4 October 2012|isbn=978-2-8099-0798-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Ducher|first=Robert|title=Caractéristique des Styles|year=1988|publisher=Flammarion|isbn=2-08-011539-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Duvergier|first=Jean-Baptiste|author-link=Jean-Baptiste Duvergier|title=Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, réglements, et avis du Conseil d'État|year=1825|publisher=Guyot et Scribe|edition=1|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63812308|archive-date=5 May 2022|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505224116/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63812308|url-status=live}}
*{{cite book|last1=Gueffier|first1=Claude-Pierre|date=1763|title=Description historique des curiosités de l'eglise de Paris, contenant le détail de l'édifice, tant extérieur qu'intérieur, le trésor, les chapelles, tombeaux, épitaphes, et l'explication des tableaux, avec les noms des peintres, etc|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xQtrRgaXtIIC|location=Paris|publisher=Chez C. P. Gueffier, Pere, Libraire, Parvis Notre-Dame, à la Libéralité}}
* {{cite book|last=Henriet|first=Jacques|title=A l'aube de l'architecture gothique|year=2005|publisher=[[University of Franche-Comté]] Press|isbn=978-2-84867-117-8}}
* {{cite book|last1=Lassus|first1=Jean-Baptiste|author-link1=Jean-Baptiste Lassus|last2=Viollet-le-Duc|first2=Eugène|author-link2=Eugène Viollet-le-Duc|title=Projet de restauration de Notre-Dame de Paris|year=1843|publisher=Imprimerie Lacombe}}
* {{cite book|last=Leproux|first=Guy-Michel|title=La peinture à Paris sous le règne de François Ier|year=2001|publisher=Sorbonne|isbn=978-2-84050-210-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qj3gePI5adsC}}
* {{cite book|last=Lissagaray|first=Prosper-Olivier|title=Histoire de la Commune de 1871 (1876)|year=200|publisher=La Decouverte/Poche|location=Paris|isbn=978-2-70-714520-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Lours|first=Mathieu|title=Dictionnaire des Cathédrales |year=2018 |publisher=Éditions Jean-Paul Gisserot|language=fr|isbn=978-2755-807653}}
* {{cite book|last=Mignon|first=Olivier|title=Architecture des Cathédrales Gothiques|date=2015|publisher=Éditions Ouest-France|language=fr|isbn=978-2-7373-6535-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Mortet|first=Victor|author-link=Victor Mortet|title=Étude historique et archéologique sur la cathédrale et le palais épiscopal de Paris du vie au xiie siècle|year=1888|publisher=A. Picard}}
* {{cite book|last=Pisani|first=Paul|title=L'Église de Paris et la Révolution|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k759154|year=1908|publisher=Al. Picard|archive-date=23 May 2022|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523011903/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k759154|url-status=live}}
* Renault, Christophe and Lazé, Christophe, ''Les Styles de l'architecture et du mobilier'', (2006), Gisserot; {{ISBN|9-782877-474658}}
* {{cite book|last=Teulet|first=Alexandre|title=Relations politiques de la France et de l'Espagne avec l'Écosse au XVIe siècle|volume=1|year=1862|publisher=Renouard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYVCAAAAcAAJ}}
* Tonazzi, Pascal. ''Florilège de Notre-Dame de Paris (anthologie)'', Editions [[Arléa]], Paris, 2007, {{ISBN|2-86959-795-9}}
* {{cite book|last=de Villefosse|first=René Héron|author-link1=René Héron de Villefosse|title=Solennités, fêtes et réjouissances parisiennes|year=1980|publisher=Association pour la publication d'une histoire de Paris|isbn=978-2-85962-002-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgQKAQAAIAAJ}}
* Trintignac, Andre and Coloni, Marie-Jeanne, ''Decouvrir Notre-Dame de Paris'', Les Editions du Cerf, Paris, 1984 {{ISBN|2-204-02087-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Viollet-le-Duc|first=Eugène|author-link=Eugène Viollet-le-Duc|title=Dictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française du XIe au XVIe siècle|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionnairerai26violgoog|year=1868|publisher=Édition BANCE}}
* {{cite book|last=Wenzler|first=Claude|title=Cathédales Cothiques – un Défi Médiéval|year=2018|publisher=Éditions Ouest-France|isbn=978-2-7373-7712-9}}
{{refend}}

===Online references===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Archives parlementaires |volume=22 |url=https://frda.stanford.edu/fr/catalog/qj170gb3259_00_0209 |publisher=[[Stanford University Libraries|Stanford Libraries]] |ref={{sfnref|Archives parlementaires, Vol. 22}} |access-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417131321/https://frda.stanford.edu/fr/catalog/qj170gb3259_00_0209 |archive-date=17 April 2019}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00086250|title=Monument historique&nbsp;– PA00086250|year=1993|publisher=[[French Ministry of Culture|Ministère de la Culture]]|location=France|language=fr|ref={{harvid|Mérimée database|1993}}|work=[[Mérimée database]] of [[Monument Historique|Monuments Historiques]]|access-date=17 July 2011}}
* [https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/ Official website of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris]
* [https://www.musique-sacree-notredamedeparis.fr/en/home Official site of Music at Notre-Dame de Paris] {{in lang|en}} also {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://www.excelman.com/en/galerie/paris/Notre-Dame_de_Paris_Cathedral/Notre-Dame_de_Paris_fire.html Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral Fire ]
* [http://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/france/ndamep.html#English Further information on the Organ with specifications of the Grandes Orgues and the Orgue de Choeur]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuzm0iMRlc Tridentine Mass celebrated in Notre-Dame in 2017]
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?540450-1/opening-ceremony-notre-dame-paris Re-opening ceremony for Notre Dame in Paris, 2024] on [[C-SPAN]]

{{Notre-Dame de Paris|state=expanded}}
{{Basilicas in France}}
{{4th arrondissement of Paris}}
{{Visitor attractions in Paris}}
{{Catholic Church in France|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Notre-Dame De Paris}}
[[Category:Notre-Dame de Paris| ]]
[[Category:Cathedrals in Paris| Notre-Dame de Paris]]
[[Category:Île de la Cité]]
[[Category:12th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in France]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1345]]
[[Category:Churches completed in the 1340s]]
[[Category:14th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in France]]
[[Category:Basilica churches in Paris]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in France|Paris, Notre-Dame de]]
[[Category:Gothic architecture in France]]
[[Category:Gothic architecture in Paris]]
[[Category:Landmarks in France]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the 4th arrondissement of Paris]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the Pippinids]]
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Paris]]
[[Category:Monuments of the Centre des monuments nationaux]]
[[Category:Burned buildings and structures in France]]