Notre-Dame de Paris - Before the Fire: The Construction and History of Notre-Dame de Paris (in English)

NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS - Before the Fire: The Construction and History of Notre-Dame de Paris (in English)
with Russell Kelley, author of The Making of Paris

In partnership with the Alliance Française Miami Metro, the Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

This event begins at 10am PT / 11am MT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET and will be IN ENGLISH.

This illustrated lecture will explore the long and eventful history of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, from its foundation in 1163 to the devastating fire on April 15, 2019, which destroyed its attic, roof, and iconic spire.

The story of Notre-Dame de Paris begins in 1163, when Bishop Sully laid the first stone on the Île de la Cité, at the heart of medieval Paris. One of the earliest Gothic cathedrals, it took 182 years to complete. Over the centuries, this architectural marvel hosted defining moments in French history, including the coronation of a young King Henry VI of England, the marriage of the future Henri IV and Marguerite de Valois, and the crowning of Napoléon I as Emperor.

After falling into neglect during the Revolution, Notre-Dame was restored by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added the iconic spire that tragically burned in 2019.

Russell Kelley is Vice President of the Alliance Française Miami Metro and the author of The Making of Paris: The Story of How Paris Evolved from a Fishing Village into the World’s Most Beautiful City (Lyons Press, 2021) and Walking Through the Ages of Paris – Ten Historical Walking Tours Through the City of Light (Lyons Press, to be published in 2026). He has lived in Paris for over 30 years – and next to Notre-Dame for the past 20 years – and attended the first mass celebrated in the rebuilt cathedral on December 8, 2024.