Gothic Architecture Timeline

Dimensions:
The length of Notre Dame is 390 ft.; the width at the transepts, 144 ft.;
the length of the nave, 225 ft.; and the
width of the nave
(without the aisles), 39 ft.
The height of the vaulting is 102 ft.

Notre Dame de Paris
Timeline

1160
Maurice de Sully proclaims the vision of the cathedral

1163
Cornerstone laid, construction begins

1182
Apse and Choir completed

1196
Death of Maurice de Sully, completion of the Nave

1200
Eudes de Sully begins work on the western facade

1225
Western facade and Rose window completed

1250
Western towers and northern Rose window completed

1250 - 1300
Remaining elements completed

1699
Reconstruction of main altar begun

1741
Stained glass windows removed

1845
Viollet-le-Duc begins major restoration

1864
Restoration completed

The Nave of
Notre Dame de Paris.

Historic Events

1185
Heraclius calls for the Third Crusade from the Notre Dame

1338 - 1453
The 100 Years War

1431
Henry VI crowned King of France within Notre Dame

1548
Huguenots damage features of cathedral following the council of Trent

1558
The Dauphin Francis weds Mary Stuart at Notre Dame

1572
Henry of Navarre weds Marguerite of Valois, days before the August 24 massacre of the Huguenots

1793
Revolutionaries vandalize Notre Dame, tearing down the gallery of kings and removing all valuables

North Rose Window

On the 2nd of December, the ceremony of the coronation took place in the ancient cathedral of Notre Dame, with the addition of every ceremony which could be devised to add to its solemnity. The Emperor took his coronation oath, as usual on such occasions, with his hands up on the scripture, and in the form in which it was repeated to him by the Pope. But not even from the head of the Catholic Church would Bonaparte consent to receive as a boon the golden symbol of sovereignty, which he was sensible he owed solely to his own unparalleled train of military and civil successes. The crown having been blessed by the Pope, Napoleon took it from the altar with his own hands, and placed it on his brows. He then put the diadem on the head of his Empress. Te Deum was sung; the heralds, proclaimed, "that the thrice glorious and thrice august Napoleon, Emperor of the French, was crowned and installed."

—Sir. Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon Bonaparte

1804
Napoleon crowned as emperor of France within Notre Dame

1871
The cathedral is set on fire during the commune

1909