NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS CATHEDRAL
The Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, is a cathedral church located in Paris, France at the eastern end of the Île de la Cité in the Seine River. The cathedral was built on the ruins of two older Roman temples of Jupiter, the Merovingian Church of St. Étienne, and the Carolingian Cathedral of Ste. Marie. The interior is 426 feet (130 meters) long by 157 feet (28 meters) wide.
The cathedral was initiated by bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully. In 1160, Bishop Maurice de Sully proposed the idea of converting into a single building, on a larger scale, on the ruins. According to the Bishop, he deemed one of the ruins (Church of St. Étienne) unworthy of its haughty role. The cathedral church that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was completed in 1345. The Bishop planned for this cathedral to be longer and taller in comparison to the previous one. The first stone was blessed by Pope Alexander III in 1163, and other embellishments were added over the next 100 years. It is unknown who the first builder of this structure was. The building consists of two massive Gothic towers that were added between 1210 and 1250, and contains many characteristics of the traditional Gothic style.
The cathedral was initiated by bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully. In 1160, Bishop Maurice de Sully proposed the idea of converting into a single building, on a larger scale, on the ruins. According to the Bishop, he deemed one of the ruins (Church of St. Étienne) unworthy of its haughty role. The cathedral church that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was completed in 1345. The Bishop planned for this cathedral to be longer and taller in comparison to the previous one. The first stone was blessed by Pope Alexander III in 1163, and other embellishments were added over the next 100 years. It is unknown who the first builder of this structure was. The building consists of two massive Gothic towers that were added between 1210 and 1250, and contains many characteristics of the traditional Gothic style.