Notre-Dame de Paris

Timeline

1. 1163–1200Île de la Cité, Paris · ParisBishop Maurice de Sully of Paris oversaw the demolition of the old Romanesque church and, with Capetian support, built a new high altar and transepts. The early works used four-part rib vaults and flying buttresses, laying the foundation of French Gothic style and reshaping the urban layout of the Île de la Cité.
2. 1251–1260Paris · ParisDuring this period the nave vaults and side aisles were largely finished, and the church became a shared place of worship and ceremony for Parisians and the royal family. Under Louis IX Paris expanded, and the square before Notre-Dame and surrounding quarters gradually took shape, strengthening the landmark's role as the capital's religious center.
3. 1220–1345Île de la Cité, Paris · ParisMasters such as Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil successively oversaw the west facade and twin towers, the north rose window, and the choir. The building's massing and sculptural program were completed, becoming a model of French High Gothic and influencing cathedral designs elsewhere.