On that day you really thought i would disappear. Just yesterday he thought it was invulnerable i the grand old queen of it the trolls daughter of human patience and genius a beacon raised on the power of intimacy to take this ship known she crossed the stormy seas of the centuries. At a moment when my future is in your hands of 1000 memories come rushing back. It was 800 years ago when my builders raised me out of the ground. During the legendary middle ages when i was built to exceed. Other. I am not redundant. And this is my story. My last. At 1st i was no more than the improbable dream of one man. The dazzling vision a long modest woodcutters son who rose to become bishop of paris. Maurice the sally who was a mad enough to believe in history as. It is paris in the year 1160 and his dream of a cathedral is too great for his time. And i can announce those powerful administrators who manage the diocese with him have refused to support his project it is too costly to insert in a work i was no more than a foolish idea. In the mid 12th century the old is the jewel of paris narrow and dark seems like it will be there for eternity. After all it is in proportion to paris which was a far cry from the major capital you know today. The small kingdom of france was a week undivided at the time and the modest diocese of paris was not as christie just as those of songs shelter. Rounds which hosted the coronation of king. Maurice to sully should have accepted the obvious my time had not yet come. But little did he care i felt his days and haunted his nights a faint silhouette on a wax top. To the devil with prudence and mediocrity. Against the advice of the canons sally summoned of the most famous Master Builders the ancestors of architects. The one overseeing the works at such. Grace and the one from souls cathedral. Together they passionately discussed the latest architectural innovations. Good by old churches with thick walls and narrow windows thanks to the gothic arch horizontal thrust could be reduced all while stretching up toward the sky ever high. They sang the praises of the revolt. Which distributes the vaults weight among the pillars lightning the structure. Lateral thrust is absorbed by flying buttresses and their heavy pedals. These are revolutionary ideas are brought dreams of light within reach. But each time or as the sally mentioned the dimensions of his as each will. Be always got the same answer. It will never step right to understand that you will not accept this challenge either. I regret so your grace. Maurice to sully had never been so long. Perhaps that is the lot of visionaries before being copied by everyone or taken from mad men. In the face of so much disappointment how not to throw in the towel. People said he had withdrawn into silence in one of the romanesque abbey is flourishing in the kingdom of the time to atone among the monks for his builders vanity. The air beneath the modest vaults of this cradle inspired by a gentle light he would meditate on the humility befitting a good christian. But sally was elsewhere. And he was not meditating. She had simply given up on fighting for his cathedral abandoning his bishops outfit and returning to the forests of his childhood. Was it a sign from god. Or the forest of his childhood sending him a message. You must charm in order to convince. I think theyre smart or will do the trick. Or do you think if you had how many years will it take to build. A lifetime but were not yet. My future now depended on a wooden model. It had to charm a Single Person the king of france louis the 7th who is preparing to spend the winter in paris. Paris will become the setting for your majesty. Regardless of where it comes from the full glory of the city will reflect upon your crown. Well then make sure that my cathedral is the most beautiful. So that none other can rival it lacked. A most beautiful after the trials finally with the king support everything was possible. My giant construction site would shake up all of the france but it is in a large forest at the paris basin that everything began among the trees that the men of the middle ages grew like wheat. And wood is no less noble than stone. And its through wood that the ingenuity of my builders 1st revealed itself. For in those times nothing spectacular could be accomplished without wood it was needed for scaffolding as framework beams and hoisting machines for tool handles. And workshop roofs. And thousands of additional tons for the cathedrals immense work site to come alive. The depths of the earth tremble as the quarry man drudge away with their sledge hammer as. The master corey men have to extract thousands of limestone blocks one after another. But one block must be brought to paris without delay the one that will serve as my 1st stop. Was a good. God it was me feel such as i. Was ill use the terms we. Were what a trial the good. Lessing of this holy stone takes place before 2 of the most powerful men in christianity the king of france and Pope Alexander society. It is the year of the 1163. 00 we put our church under the protection of the virgin mary the mother of christ it will be called not trust cathedral not our dime to paddy. All Church Actually be able to use. With the popes blessing sullys construction can finally begin. Video the lesson today will be forever changed. The old cathedral has had its day. Part of it is preserved for service that must be held somewhere and till noted on the body rises above the city. Everything about my architecture is sacred. My choir transept and neve will form a stone ship 127 meters in length and shaped like a cross my choir symbolizes the head of christ like most churches it is oriented. Which is to say it faces the orient to welcome the 1st rays of light and those that dispel the darkness and enter the souls of the face full. Of. Joy the music of my construction finally echoes across all of paris. Fills the 1164. 5. As one would expect m. T. N. Could not resist the call of the work site he gave his professors the slip soon enough. The bishop tried to reason with him but youd never seen a more stubborn boy. Sulley had entrusted the construction work to richard come on there waiting a simple stone mason who had made my Master Builder because he knew that on a building site its hands on knowledge that matter even moving people squeak i dont really. Need to know what i was like you. The trenches will be filled with hundreds of tons of blocks and stone to create the foundations that will bear my full weight. They stretch 9 meters underground. This space is both colossal and crucial for nothing will stand on a weak foundation. The foundations for the choir will be finished by autumn take the time you need our island soil is rajo were going to load it with so many stones that it wont budge its the transit pillars where well have to be careful. My founders nightmares have given way to the builders excell Taishan Sally thinks of nothing but the size of my pillows or the design of my flying buttresses. He almost forgets how perilous an adventure he embarked upon with such rudimentary means. 11725 years have passed. 5 long years of labor before reaping the 1st rewards. My life has begun to emerge from the ground i. Dont think this is the construction site for the pyramids. My builders are not many often just a few dozen. Their tools may be rudimentary but their gestures operas sights and their know how unrivaled. These men are part of a special world there are no slaves here every bit of manpower is paid. By Little Village of workshops sprouts up at my feet they housed the masters and Guild Craftsman from the 80 occupations needed for my construction they are the elite of the work site and that talent costs. Etienne has also grown sally can be pleased for the little vagabond has found a satellite. Actually hes found something even better. A calling. He dreamed of being a stone cutter he admired the highly skilled craftsman belonging to the Companion Guild and envied the fortunate ones who completed a 6 year apprenticeship. Thats the time it takes to distinguish the nuance other regional limestone the muffled notes of soft stones. The bright sound of a click out the hard stones that bear the extreme pressures exerted on my pillow as. Each block must be perfectly square for we are building for eternity. And here learn the name of each of their precious jewels masons hammer clutches all straight so costly to maintain that the master counted them every night. Through sheer perseverance he managed to gain acceptance in this closed and secret world. To him. In the end the master entrusted him with a 1st block. Edge and had never been so happy. But he still had so much to learn. It is not really all the journey was all mapped out he would succeed his father screwed the sides well for now he was learning how to dose the quantity of live sand and gravel thats needed to make mortar. To feel the resistance of this infinitely subtle necks beneath his trial. To read its glistening reflections and determine the precise moment when the cement is ready for use. Am. Considerable quantities are needed for this mortar seals not just the blocks but also my wall. It fills their interior mixed with crudely cut stones. Mortar may seem less noble than but its what gives my walls the strength of what. When there apprenticeship is complete stone cutters then signature on masons mark on the blocks in order to be paid for their work. And was gifted. One day he would be a great craftsman. Every stone in a cathedral has its story each one secretly bears the memory of the hand that carved it. I am the stuff of their destinies these builders who patiently raise my choir over 3 levels supported by heavy about rent and rows of flying buttresses. But dont be naive it took fortunes to produce these marvels. Sally could count on the revenues of the diocese which was incredibly wealthy. The fertile lands of the paris basin provided the means to pay for the colossal expenses of construction. But in the middle ages vagaries of weather could quickly turn into calamity. All it took was a rainy summer followed by a freezing winter for the ground to turn to stone and the diocese income to suddenly collapse. Building a cathedral was a luxury that could no longer be afforded. The canons of the fabric who had the weighty task of a minister in the sights finances had warned the bishop soon there wont be a penny left. Footed to good use. The old filter for morse with a string but sally didnt want to hear any of it god was simply testing their courage he would find the money using every means at his disposal. He brought out the precious relics of christian saints from. The remains of sandinista the 1st bishop of paris and even a vase said to have held the real milk of the virgin mary. The people of the middle ages venerated relics and their presentation ceremonies provided fine opportunities to take the collection on for. But this was not enough and sally forgot his principles thank you he ordered the sale of candles to be revived. In exchange for a heavy sack of flour or a few coins the church would pardon certain sins. Not fasting during lent or a shameful relation. My founder was ready to pardon anything in order for work to resume. The gifts of the faithful have allowed construction to resume. But the threats of the full medical canada have shaken my build is. What theyre chasing after sinful glory without knowing it. What if maurice does sallys project to which they have devoted their lives is destined for disaster. It was urgent that my choir be finished so that service could finally be helping. The builders shape and raise the 1000 beams of by framework some of which were shown out of centuries old folks they give it its magnificent need. Of the forest. Then the building must quickly be protected from inclement weather with a roof of a large ledge she says. Was around. Other. Than. The roofers are among the elite unlike instruction site only the most seasoned are allowed to climb high peaks 45 meters above the ground. 118220 years after the start of construction my choir finally echoes with the sounds of the cannon spread as it has been closed off by a temporary wall. But for my builders the possibility of one day seeing the completed cathedral has vanished forever. But the new king will griffin little goosed often sought out the bishop for council of what influence that sally has. No one will know but it was at this moment that the king decided to make paris his capital. He equipped the city with the surrounding wall venturing 5 kilometers flanked by 77 towers. And started construction on the shuttle to do for the formidable fortress the west of the ramparts. Amid this surge of activity by builders redoubled their efforts. The most prodigious phase takes place beneath my framework the laying of my vaults. Richard had wood centering is installed atop the pillars on which the masons lay the stone blocks one by one. The keystone is the centerpiece ensuring the cohesion of the whole. Then comes the blocks that enclose the vault. But the procedure is always delicate always uncertain. Especially for the largest one. The transept crossing. At the end chiseled each of old stone so they would fit perfectly against one another. All thats left is for poles and mortar to set like glue. As though their talent and devotion are not enough they also add their anxious pass. Its a cold day and stalling the arches had gone as well as possible the mortar had set. This 1000 metres stonebridge hangs 39 meters above the ground. The hour of truce has come. Time on what are you waiting for our. Lets proceed all together oh my god. Nothing is too big or too beautiful for the lord his house should be high like the vault of the sky. Was. Up. Hell. We did it. To come out just because of the celebration and good god. Lets. Not let. The construction will continue. But the time has come for you to leave her but why the centuries wont heavily damaged a few more days and we can lay the ball to get richards is dead paul is going to continue its such. Thats how things work i have to state i must you all gifted at you. But you still have much to learn. Take with us. You will go from side to side. Its the only way to improve your lot i have faith in your good fortune. In the middle ages goodbye often means farewell. With etienne gone sallys Health Begins to fail. What will become of me without the inspiration from which i was born. Sensing that his strength was leaving him the old man withdrew into his paris abbey. He passed away 1196 over 80 years old. I am often and. My founder will never see his lifes work completed but he did something even greater. He launched a little vagabond on the path of great builders. When his tears had dried at the end resumed his odyssey. Drawing the centuries marvelous inventions in his notebook. He authored his talents from site to site and perfected his art. His curiosity was insatiable he had to understand everything. Everywhere he sought to detect the secret laws that govern architecture and the nature of things as. In paris the music of the stone cutters workshops has resumed. Additional craftsman have come to lend a hand. In the work will continue come what may in. My choir is extended by a spectacular name. Before dying sally left enough to pay for its lead roofing. Under pauls orders my imposing facade begins to search from the ground with its 3 monumental portals. It is now the here 1215. 00. The stone cutters have been joined by sculptors who bear a wonderful name imagining the image makers. Beneath their chisels the scenes from holy scripture commissioned by the canons transformed into images of infinite grace. In this world where books are so rare they are the pages of a stone bible. The blissful poses of those chosen for paradise arent what inspired the sculptors the most. Its the visions of hell with their terrifying creatures and tortured bodies that bring forth the full genius of the imagining. Also the torments of these middle ages haunted by fear of divine punishment. In the spring of 121000 torrential rains fall on paris. The sand has once again risen from its bed and this time it has taken everything along with it. All was devastated. He realized how fragile i was. The most spectacular damage is often not the most serious water is an insidious enemy with each downpour it weighs against my sides runs along the walls and digs into my facades infiltrating the stone and breaking it in times of frost. I am not yet 50 years old and water is already nibbling away at me like leprosy. My misfortunes reached the ears of the man who is now known as master at t. N. It is the year 1220 and i am in need of help. But when he steps inside fillable ghosts wall of his heart twinge of. How not to dread our reunion. My foundations was so weakened by the water that work had to be stopped. In knows all this. But hasnt seen me yet. And such a sorry sight. A chance. To work by god. Told. At his return has delighted the cannons for they want to build a monumental gallery above the corals to hold the statues of 28 king in honor of filippo goosed we need it to suit possible does this seem feasible to you and. The 2 finding boys who i watched grow up have combined their forces for a final challenge. Under etiennes orders their best imagine a sculpted enormous blocks of limestone. Each king required a mug of work. Under pauls orders the gallery was quickly built. The laws of perspective would be established 2 centuries later but etienne has already mastered its cowards he asked the sculptors to give the statues bodies that are longer than natural with bigger heads. Seen from the ground 15 meters below the kings will assume their correct proportions. After dark etienne leads another battle against the devastating effect of rain. To drain away the thousands of liters of water that fall on my roofs with each downpour he imagines digging the tops of the flying buttresses to transform them into gutters connected to a vast network of channels. The gargoyles at their far end will spit out water at a distance in order to preserve the walls. This amazing invention will save my life. Hed come a long way since his improbable encounter with lauries to sally. My gown of stone was not always white the facades of my builders were greeted with color. These are the true middle ages which some thought the dark and ignorant building cathedrals of unrivalled beauty in the heart of city. The builders of etiennes generation were tired now. They had to learn everything by themselves invent everything on their own. They had devoted their lives to me. Write. Farewell. And thanks to you the craftsman of my heroes. But other builders had already taken over the reigns. They launched a gigantic works to build the Drainage Network imagined by a t. N. My roof had to be removed and my walls raised by 2 meters. I am a used the opportunity to transform the small terrace roofs and to rework the flying buttresses. My framework is entirely remounted 1200. 00 tons of wood and lead which they crown a with us by. Seeking to improve sallys project they transform my small windows into walls of glass that other cathedrals will rush to imitate. And of course they finally raise my 2 towers 69 meters above the ground. Much higher than the one in the kings palace. In the late 12th thirties i finally have the outline you know so well. The one that maurice to sally drew 80 years earlier on a wax tablet. But my story is far from over. It was all set augustine 1239 should have been my day of glory. The reign of filippo goosed saw my construction. That of his grandson st louis would see my consecration. On that day the very christian of kings brought the most coveted of all relics back to paris. The crown of thorns that christ wore during the crucifixion. Because. It had cost an astronomical sum. Enough to build 2 cathedrals. And its to me notre done dividing that the king came with this invaluable treasure. All 100000 per regions held their breath. With this crown in notre dame paris would be paradise. After staying in the shadows of other cathedrals for so long i finally saw myself as the 1st lady of france. I couldnt fathom that this crown wasnt meant for me. The king has the sunshine built in just 6 years just a few streets from my towers. That sublime rather carried with its walls of glass is a miracle. The king has made up his mind that would be the home of the holy cross. But there is worse yet. Aside from its insolent beauty all that was marvelous 20 years ago now seemed heavy and dark. What remained of maurice to sallys daring all richard sacrifice etiennes genius. Would construction have to resume once again. My builders would try to rise to this challenge. From my incredible story just because. A capital in crisis the streets are empty. The majority of businesses are closed and families are confined to within their own 4 walls. Life in berlin during the corona crisis. Her residence dealing with the restrictions some. 90 minutes on d w. Stand for. Lawyers. Spelling which courses. Video and audio. Anytime anywhere. W. Frankfurt. International gateway to the best connection so road and rail. Located. It in the heart of europe you are connected to the whole world. Experience outstanding shopping and dining offers and try our services. Biala gassed at Frankfurt Airport city managed by from a bought. This is e w news live from berlin chinas one time coronavirus epicenter of lifts its lockdown after nearly 3 months travellers who have passed Health Checks are streaming out of the city but authorities remain on high alert trying to guard against another outbreak from imported cases or people without symptoms plus a relink they missed a call they could have called it months earlier they would have known. U. S. President donald trump a lashing out at the world healthy