Why Notre-Dame Is So Important
The rebirth of a nation...
With all the talk of Notre-Dame cathedral and photos of its remarkable turnaround circulating, you might be tempted to ask, “why is it so important?”
It’s in some sense a fair question — what, in fact, makes the Notre-Dame de Paris stand apart from every other great European (and indeed French) cathedral?
The answer lies in its role as a cornerstone of French identity. From coronations to assassination attempts, the cathedral has served as a great stage of French history.
And when disaster struck in 2019, it wasn’t just priceless art rescued from the inferno by firefighters — one far more significant object was saved…
Remember, we go deeper on topics like this every weekend with our premium members:
In-depth articles, subscriber-only podcasts, and breakdowns of history’s greatest art.
Upgrade to get them every Saturday — it’ll help make our mission to spread beauty, truth and goodness our full-time endeavor!
Stage for French Power
Notre-Dame was never meant to be just another church. From the day its construction began in 1163, the cathedral was designed to showcase Paris as a cultural and political powerhouse. With its soaring arches and pioneering flying buttresses, the cathedral became a model of Gothic innovation and a source of local pride.
Over the centuries, it hosted some of France’s most pivotal moments — perhaps none more dramatic than the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte. In a carefully orchestrated ceremony, Napoleon took the crown from Pope Pius VII’s hands and placed it on his own head, signaling that his authority came not from the Church but from himself.
He then crowned his wife, Josephine, underscoring the shift from divine-right monarchy to self-made rule. This moment, staged in the grandeur of Notre-Dame, showcased the cathedral not just as a religious site but as a theater for power and political transformation.
Even in modern times, Notre-Dame’s prominence hasn’t waned. In 1944, Charles de Gaulle narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in the cathedral. While walking down the aisle of the church, gunfire erupted from German snipers hidden in the rafters. A brief firefight then broke out, with bullets striking the cathedral’s stone walls — but de Gaulle, stoic and unflinching, continued forward, cementing his image as a symbol of French resilience.
Beloved Literary Character
By the early 19th century Notre-Dame was in disrepair, a shadow of its former glory. The French Revolution had stripped the cathedral of its treasures, and neglect had left it crumbling. But that was until one author stepped onto the stage and single-handedly breathed back life into the Parisian icon.
Victor Hugo’s bestselling novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame turned public attention back to the cathedral by portraying it as a majestic, living character intertwined with the soul of Paris. Through the tragic story of Quasimodo, Hugo celebrated the cathedral as a timeless emblem of beauty and history, and called for its restoration.
The novel struck a chord, and sparked a wave of public support for the cathedral’s preservation. Architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc oversaw the restoration work, adding new gargoyles, restoring the iconic towers, and designing the spire that became a symbol of Paris until its destruction in 2019.
Hugo’s passionate defense of the cathedral solidified its standing in the hearts and minds of the French people, preserving its reputation into the modern era.
Spiritual Drama
In addition to being a stage for history and literature, Notre-Dame is also a place of profound spiritual significance. At its heart lies one of Christianity’s most revered relics, the Crown of Thorns, believed by many to have been the real crown worn by Christ during the Crucifixion.
In 1239, King Louis IX (later Saint Louis) paid a staggering sum to acquire the crown from Latin Emperor Baldwin II, who was forced to pawn it for an army to save his teetering empire. To house the crown, Louis built the breathtaking Sainte-Chapelle, although it was later moved to Notre-Dame, where it became the centerpiece of Good Friday ceremonies.
The relic’s authenticity, though impossible to prove, is at least supported by its continued veneration since antiquity. King Louis certainly believed it was real — he paid over half of his nation’s entire budget to get hold of it…
The Crown’s significance was underscored during the 2019 fire, when firefighters and clergy risked their lives to save it. The dramatic rescue reminded the world that Notre-Dame isn’t just a historic building — it’s a living site of devotion. For many, the preservation of the Crown of Thorns symbolized hope and continuity amidst the destruction.
A New Beginning
The fire of April 15, 2019 was a defining moment in Notre Dame’s story. As flames engulfed the spire and roof, Parisians gathered on the streets, singing hymns and watching in horror. The cathedral’s survival felt like a miracle, and its reconstruction has since become a symbol of hope and renewal.
Notre-Dame’s global resonance lies in its ability to transcend time. It’s not just a masterpiece of Gothic architecture or a repository of history — it’s a monument to the French spirit. From coronations to novels, from sacred relics to near-catastrophe, it endures as a place where faith, culture, and national identity converge.
When the bells of Notre-Dame ring out this weekend, they’ll remind us why this cathedral is not just another European landmark.
It’s the beating heart of France, as timeless and unshakable as the city it calls home.
Remember, you can also get our premium content every Saturday!
Upgrade for in-depth articles, subscriber-only podcasts, and breakdowns of history’s greatest art — and help our mission to spread beauty, truth and goodness…
Art of the Week
Few paintings capture the drama of power quite like Jacques-Louis David’s masterpiece. At 20 feet tall and 32 feet wide, this monumental canvas isn’t just a record of Napoleon’s 1804 coronation in Notre-Dame — it’s a carefully constructed narrative of authority and ambition.
Contrary to popular belief, however, the centerpiece of the painting isn’t Napoleon crowning himself. Instead, David chose to depict the moment Napoleon crowns his wife Josephine, with the Pope seated passively in the background. The composition emphasizes Napoleon’s control over the ceremony, blending the grandeur of tradition with his self-made rise to power.
David’s meticulous attention to detail — from the gold embroidery of Napoleon’s robes to the expressions of key figures — transforms the event into both history and myth. Every element, including the imposing architecture of Notre-Dame, serves to elevate Napoleon’s authority, tying him to the legacy of both Roman emperors and French kings.
Commissioned by Napoleon himself, the painting was as much propaganda as it is art. It still hangs in the Louvre, a towering reminder of how power is staged, constructed, and immortalized.
Great article! I've visited Notre Dame many times and was truly saddened to see the images of it burning. I look forward to visiting the re-built cathedral soon. Thank you for this concise and informative history!
This is a great article. As a protestant, I still love the history of the church and the magnificence of this building. I hope to see it in person some day.