Origins of Notre‑Dame: Gothic Foundations and Vision
From 12th‑century ambition to Gothic mastery: how foundations, vaults, and buttresses launched Notre‑Dame’s ascent.
→
Anatomy of Space: Nave, Transept, Choir
Inside Notre‑Dame’s spatial machine: proportions, sightlines, and how structure choreographs processions and light.
→
Stained Glass and Rose Windows: The Grammar of Light
Iconography in colored fire: how glass, lead, and geometry paint doctrine and daylight in Notre‑Dame.
→
Portals and Sculpture: An Iconography Lesson in Stone
Reading the portals of Notre‑Dame: tympana, archivolts, and saints as a public textbook of theology.
→
Gargoyles and Chimeras: Function Meets Myth
Drainage, defense, and imagination: what Notre‑Dame’s gargoyles do, and what we see in them.
→
Organ & Acoustics: Liturgy’s Soundscape
Pipes, vaults, and reverberation: how Notre‑Dame shapes sacred sound and the organ’s voice.
→
Treasury & Relics: Crown of Thorns and Custody
From reliquaries to vestments: how Notre‑Dame cares for sacred objects, their histories, and public devotion.
→
Wars and Protection: Notre‑Dame in WWI & WWII
Sandbags, vigilance, and resilience: how Notre‑Dame endured 20th‑century conflicts and remained a civic symbol.
→
The Great Fire (2019): Timeline, Causes, and Impact
From spark to spire collapse: a reconstructed timeline of Notre‑Dame’s 2019 fire and its structural consequences.
→
Reconstruction: Materials, Methods, and Digital Survey
Oak, lead, laser scans: how traditional craft and cutting‑edge survey rebuilt Notre‑Dame’s roof and spire.
→
Restoration Crafts: Stone, Glass, Carpentry
Notre‑Dame’s restoration is a living classroom: masons, glaziers, and carpenters renewing fabric with patient skill.
→
Structure: Vaults and Buttresses—An Engineering Reading
How Notre‑Dame stands: a clear view of ribs, webs, thrust paths, and external buttress chains.
→
Urban Context: Île de la Cité and the Seine
Notre‑Dame’s island setting: bridges, quays, and how the cathedral frames Parisian life along the river.
→
Myths & Fake News: The Rooftop Pool and Other Stories
Separating rumor from reality: rooftop pool memes, modern myths, and what the reconstruction actually does.
→
Nature on Stone: Birds and Hawks on the Façade
A living ecosystem: raptors, nests, and how wildlife interacts with Notre‑Dame’s stone surfaces.
→
Timeline in Miniatures: A Visual History
From medieval miniatures to 20th‑century images: tracking Notre‑Dame’s changing face in pictures.
→
Front Door Engravings: Micro‑Iconography and Detail
Reading small: engravings above the main doors as micro‑lessons in doctrine and craft.
→
Interior Damages After the Fire: A Reading
From soot to vault scars: how the fire changed Notre‑Dame’s interior and how conservators responded.
→
Nave Ceiling: Ribs, Webs, and Repair Techniques
Repairing the sky of stone: rib reconnection, web stitching, and making vaults whole again after trauma.
→
Façade Geometry & Symbolism: Day and Night Readings
Squares, circles, and stories: how façades speak under daylight and glow at night.
→
Gallery Views: Reading Elevations from Above
From galleries and triforium: how elevation layers reveal the cathedral’s engineering.
→
Stone Gutters: Weathering and Care
How Notre‑Dame manages rain: gutters, joints, and stone lips that keep façades dry.
→
Altar & Choir After the Fire: Ritual Restored
From damage to dignity: how altar and choir areas were assessed, cleaned, and brought back to ritual use.
→
Saints and Statues: Program and Care
Reading saints as architecture: placement, program, and conservation cycles across Notre‑Dame’s façades and interior.
→
Restored Interiors: Finish and Light
Post‑restoration interiors: new brightness, surface readings, and how finishes recalibrate perception.
→
Side Glasses & Ceilings: Light and Structure
Side aisles as laboratories of light and structure: how glazing and ceilings balance intimacy and engineering.
→
Main Nave Damages & Protection: After the Fire
Assessment and safeguards: documenting main nave damages and the protective measures that followed.
→
Night Views: Photography and Lighting
How to see Notre‑Dame at night: vantage points, lighting programs, and photographic notes.
→
Crypt Archaeology: Layers Under the Cathedral
Reading the past beneath: the archaeological crypt and the city’s foundations under Notre‑Dame.
→
New Buttress Reinforcements: Modern Additions
Post‑fire structural care: reading new buttress elements and how they integrate with the historic system.
→