Fill in the blanks.

Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral church of Paris is a …………….. (nobel / noble) achievement of early Gothic architecture in France. It ……………. (stands / is standing / has stood) upon the Ile de la Cite, a small island in the Seine.

The towers were ……………. (finishing / finished) around 1245, but the building was not completed until the beginning of the 14th century. During the French Revolution rioters ……………. (convert / converted) the cathedral into a “Temple of Reason” and destroyed the sculptures of the west facade. Skillful restorations were begun in 1845 by Viollet-le-Duc.

Answers

Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral church of Paris is a noble achievement of early Gothic architecture in France. It stands upon the Ile de la Cite, a small island in the Seine. The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1163 by Pope Alexander III. The high altar was consecrated 20 years later, and the nave was completed except for the roofing in 1196. However, in 1230 the nave was reconstructed and the present flying buttresses were added. Soon after, chapels were installed between the buttresses. The towers were finished around 1245, but the building was not completed until the beginning of the 14th cent. During the French Revolution rioters converted the cathedral into a “Temple of Reason ” and destroyed the sculptures of the west facade. Skillful restorations were begun in 1845 by Viollet-le-Duc.