Construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone.
Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345.
During its history, Notre Dame has been the site of numerous official and other ceremonial occasions.
These include:
- 1239; The Crown of Thorns placed in the Cathedral by St. Louis during the construction of Sainte-Chapelle.
- 1302; Philip the Fair opens the first States General.
- 1430; Henri VI of England is crowned. Mary Stuart becomes Queen of France after her marriage to François II, and is crowned.
- 1572; Marguerite of Valoi is married to the Huguenot Henri of Navarre here.
- 2 December 1804; After the anointing by Pius VII, Napoléon seizes the crown from the pontiff and crowns first himself, then Josephine.
- 26 August 1944; The Te Deum Mass celebrates the liberation of Paris.
- 12 November 1970; The Requiem Mass of General de Gaulle.
- 31 May 1980; After the Magnificat of this day, Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass on the parvis in front of the Cathedral.
