<Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> That most glorious church of the most glorious Virgin Mary, mother of God, deservedly shines out, like the sun among stars . And although some speakers, by their own free judgment, because (they are) able to see only a few things easily, may say that some other is more beautiful, I believe however, respectfully, that, if they attend more diligently to the whole and the parts, they will quickly retract this opinion . Where indeed, I ask, would they find two towers of such magnificence and perfection, so high, so large, so strong, clothed round about with such a multiple variety of ornaments? Where, I ask, would they find such a multipartite arrangement of so many lateral vaults, above and below? Where, I ask, would they find such light - filled amenities as the many surrounding chapels? Furthermore, let them tell me in what church I may see such a large cross, of which one arm separates the choir from the nave . Finally, I would willingly learn where (there are) two such circles, situated opposite each other in a straight line, which on account of their appearance are given the name of the fourth vowel (O); among which smaller orbs and circlets, with wondrous artifice, so that some arranged circularly, others angularly, surround windows ruddy with precious colors and beautiful with the most subtle figures of the pictures . In fact I believe that this church offers the carefully discerning such cause for admiration that its inspection can scarcely sate the soul . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3">--Jean de Jandun, Tractatus de laudibus Parisius </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> That most glorious church of the most glorious Virgin Mary, mother of God, deservedly shines out, like the sun among stars . And although some speakers, by their own free judgment, because (they are) able to see only a few things easily, may say that some other is more beautiful, I believe however, respectfully, that, if they attend more diligently to the whole and the parts, they will quickly retract this opinion . Where indeed, I ask, would they find two towers of such magnificence and perfection, so high, so large, so strong, clothed round about with such a multiple variety of ornaments? Where, I ask, would they find such a multipartite arrangement of so many lateral vaults, above and below? Where, I ask, would they find such light - filled amenities as the many surrounding chapels? Furthermore, let them tell me in what church I may see such a large cross, of which one arm separates the choir from the nave . Finally, I would willingly learn where (there are) two such circles, situated opposite each other in a straight line, which on account of their appearance are given the name of the fourth vowel (O); among which smaller orbs and circlets, with wondrous artifice, so that some arranged circularly, others angularly, surround windows ruddy with precious colors and beautiful with the most subtle figures of the pictures . In fact I believe that this church offers the carefully discerning such cause for admiration that its inspection can scarcely sate the soul . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="3">--Jean de Jandun, Tractatus de laudibus Parisius </Td> </Tr> <P> In 1160, because the church in Paris had become the "Parish church of the kings of Europe", Bishop Maurice de Sully deemed the previous Paris cathedral, Saint - Étienne (St Stephen's), which had been founded in the 4th century, unworthy of its lofty role, and had it demolished shortly after he assumed the title of Bishop of Paris . As with most foundation myths, this account needs to be taken with a grain of salt; archeological excavations in the 20th century suggested that the Merovingian cathedral replaced by Sully was itself a massive structure, with a five - aisled nave and a façade some 36m across . It is possible therefore that the faults with the previous structure were exaggerated by the Bishop to help justify the rebuilding in a newer style . According to legend, Sully had a vision of a glorious new cathedral for Paris, and sketched it on the ground outside the original church . </P>

Description of the notre dame cathedral in paris