Notre-Dame de Paris was begun in 1163 and its main structure was effectively finished in the 13th century, with work often said to have been largely complete by around 1260 and the whole project finished by 1345.

Quick Scoop: when was Notre Dame built?

  • Construction began in 1163 , when Bishop Maurice de Sully launched the project and the first stone was laid in the presence of King Louis VII (and traditionally associated with Pope Alexander III).
  • The choir and eastern parts were usable by the 1180s, so religious services were taking place even while work continued.
  • Most of the main Gothic structure, including the nave and major façades, stood by about 1200–1250.
  • Many modern references describe Notre-Dame as “completed” in 1345 , when the long campaign of work on details and later phases wrapped up.

So if you’re answering “when was Notre Dame built,” the shortest accurate reply is:

  • It was started in 1163 and completed in 1345 as a Gothic cathedral in Paris.

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