Designed in the Gothic fashion and built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Notre Dame Cathedral in France is the official seat of the Archbishop of Paris. Its architecture is one of the first examples of the use of flying buttresses, and the cathedral features numerous statues and stained glass windows. Major components that make Notre Dame unique include one of the world's largest organs and its immense church bells. Throughout its history, the cathedral has suffered from vandalism and near destruction, but concerted efforts to preserve its rich history continue.

Construction of Notre Dame

The Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, ordered the construction of Notre Dame in 1160. He deemed the church that already stood in the location unworthy of the prestige of his position. Actual construction started a few years later when the foundation stone was laid in 1163. The choir, the first portion of the building to be completed, was consecrated in 1177. The High Altar was finished a few years later, in 1182. Maurice de Sully died in 1196 while the cathedral was still being built. Construction continued for years, with many bishops and architects making their mark on the seemingly never-ending building process. The fact that so many people had a part in building Notre Dame is what accounts for its unique and varied design. It wasn't until 1345 that the cathedral was consecrated as complete.

Notre Dame's Organ and Bells

As a centerpiece of the cathedral, many organs were installed over the years after Notre Dame's construction. The first fully integrated organ, however, was not completed until the 18th century. Francois-Henri Clicquot built an organ with pipes that extended through the walls. It was rebuilt in the 19th century by Aristide Cavaille-Coll, who laid 6,900 new pipes to fit with the 900 from the previous design. In 1992, the organ was updated again; this time it was computerized through the utilization of three local area networks.

The bells of Notre Dame are also some of the most famous in Europe. Of the five large bells, the one in the South Tower is the most prominent. Known as the bourdon bell Emmanuel, it weighs over 13 tons. The North Tower contains the remaining four. Traditionally, the bells were rung by hand, but electric motors were installed in the early 20th century.

Damage and Restoration

Notre Dame has gone through a number of periods of destruction and restoration. Even so, much of the facade and interior remain true to the original designs. During the 16th century, both the Huguenots and the French king vandalized and changed much of the contents of the cathedral. Many features on the exterior were removed because they were considered idolatrous, while tombs and stained glass windows were destroyed in the name of modernization. During the French Revolution, the cathedral was converted into a storage warehouse for food, and the heads of many statues were removed.

The first attempt at restoration was conducted between 1845 and 1870. Much of the damage from the previous century was repaired, and new additions were constructed. Another restoration program began in 1991 and continued well beyond its planned completion date. This effort focused on cleaning and preserving sculpture and facades rather than adding any new features. In 2014, the lighting in the cathedral was updated.

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