Historical and Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS

WIENER, Jacques and Charles: France, 1855, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: View of exterior    NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRALE DE PARIS
Exergue: FONDEE IV SIECLE. RECONSTRUITE 1160 PAR L'EVEQUE MAURICE DE SULLY. TERMINEE SOUS PHILIPPE AUGUSTE. AUMENTEE SOUS ST LOUIS ET DE SES SUCCESSEURS JUSQU' A 1300. LA RESTAURATION COMMENCEE 1845. VIOLLET-LEDUC ET LASSUS ARCHIT.  (Founded IV century. Reconstructed 1160 by the Bishop Maurice De Sully. Completed under Philippe Auguste. Augmented under St Louis and his successors until 1300. Restoration was begun 1845 by Viollet-le-Duc [Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc] and Lassus [Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus], Architects)
Rev:
View of interior
Signed: J. ET CH. WIENER F.
Ref: Van Hoydonck 122; Eidlitz 176/1044a; Reinecke 40; Bouhy 8; Ross M150; Weiss BW252

Begun in 1160 (1163?) and largely completed more than a century later, the early Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame is situated on the Ile de la Cite in Paris. It is a fine example of Gothic architecture, noted for its flying buttresses, which were a technical advance providing support, and for the rose window in the west facade. One of the most daring constructions of its time, it has a wide nave and double ambulatory. The west facade was imitated in many French churches.

Among the many notable events that took place here, one might mention that Henry VI of England was crowned as king in the Cathedral at Notre Dame in 1431, and Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor there in 1804. Most coronations of the kings and queens of France were performed at the Cathedral at Reims (Rheims).

This magnificent cathedral was built on the ruins of previous churches going back at least to the fourth century. Over the centuries, the original church, which this cathedral replaced, and the completed cathedral were destroyed by fire, the most recent fire being that which engulfed a large part of the Cathedral at Notre Dame in April, 2019. Plans are for it to be rebuilt again.

LINK to photo of Notre Dame Cathedral

Image of North Rose Window

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