Notre-Dame has stood as a beacon of hope and faith for the Catholic community for more than 800 years until a fire devastated the cathedral's spire in April of last year. The spire, which towered 300 feet into the air, collapsed after extensive damage and since then, plans to rebuild have remained firmly in place. Recently, though, it was decided by French president Emmanuel Marcon that the spire's architecture would follow that which was originally there, and this won't be the only renovation the cathedral has gone through.
Originally, the plan was to rebuild the structure using new plans with a different look. Ultimately, timing played a factor in the intricate plans that Macron previously had for the cathedral. The spire, which dated back to the 1800s, brings with it a new set of challenges, but its original architecture comes as a welcome surprise. Thankfully, with the help of 3D scans of the original spire, the process to rebuild has been made far easier than without. The work will be ongoing in order to match both materials and window pieces, both of which were very specific to the cathedral and its stunning detail.
The Beauty In Every Feature
Perhaps one of the cathedral's most beautiful and notable architectural feats is that of the Rose Window, built by Jean de Chelles in ca. 1250. It's said to be the essence of French gothic architecture, created by the process of bringing together very small pieces of glass with the use of strong webs. This delicate process is what gives the window both its appearance in color as well as its curtain-like aura when sunlight shines through it, both of which are visually breathtaking. Bright blues, reds, greens, browns, and yellows were introduced in this window, making it truly one of a kind.
The area surrounding Notre-Dame is quite stunning as well. As the season changes, so do the plant life that exists around the cathedral. From cherry blossoms to lush green shrubs that gracefully climb the brick wall separating the river from the cathedral, it's all quite beautiful.
As with many Catholic cathedrals, Notre-Dame welcomes everyone with grand archways, each with intricate carvings that only add to the grandness of this architecture. Its towering spires were features classically belonging to the gothic style.
Waling inside this cathedral is nothing short of a humbling experience. From the outside, it's hard to believe that the ceilings reach the heights that they do or that the stained glass windows appear far more ethereal and brilliant than they do on the outside. Those lucky enough to have walked down this aisle are immediately treated by grand archways surrounding either side of the pews and met by absolutely stunning stained glass windows at the front of the cathedral.
The beauty of this cathedral, whether one has a spiritual connection to it or just enjoys architectural masterpieces, simply can't be denied. When news of the fire broke out, it not only devastated those in France but made an impact worldwide due to its historical and spiritual significance.
Until reconstruction is completed, here's an additional video of the Notre-Dame choir singing in the church prior to the incident. Along with its visually stunning features, the acoustics in the church are also impressive. One doesn't need to be heavily religious in order to appreciate beauty for what it is, especially in a place such as this.