Historical and Commemorative
Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS WIENER, Jacques and Charles: France, 1855, Bronze, 59 mm 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
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