Notre Dame

Basilica of Our Lady of the chief judge of Saigon (people known as the Notre Dame Cathedral) is located between the city center (# 1 Paris Commune Square, District 1). This is one of the excellent work attracted many visitors at Ho Chi Minh City. Chapel and ancient splendor is not just a religion but also works as an architect of great value in cultural history.

As soon as occupied Saigon, the French had established churches as places of ceremonies for Christian believers in the Expeditionary Corps. The first church was established in the No. 5 (now Ngo Duc Ke). This is one of the Vietnamese Buddhist temples were abandoned by the war, late director Lefebvre had turned the temple into a church.

The first church so small that in 1863, Admiral Bonard decided to start building a wooden church on the banks of "The Great" (also known as economic Charner, the Republic of Vietnam is the headquarters building Review Procedure). Lefebvre tried to put the first stone church building on March 28, 1863. Wooden church building, completed in 1865, originally known as Saigon Cathedral. Later, the wooden church was much damaged by termites, the ceremony was held in the reception room of the "Governor's palace" old, later modified into Taberd seminary, until the large church built

According to documents, Notre Dame is done by the project architect J. Bourad. The church was constructed in 1877 and completed in 1880. In it, the whole church is 93m in length, 35.5 m wide and 57 m high (from ground to the top of the bell tower) After the selected project design, bidding Admiral Duperre for the construction of St. and also the way the architect J.Bourad is the levy and directly supervise this work. All materials from cement to steel fasteners are brought from France. Especially the outside of the building constructed of bricks set as in Marseille (France) to the ceiling, do not fill a warrant, (this still fresh pink color), moss dust.

October 7, 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert first stone placed in front of Deputy Marshal South and east enough characters eyes and ears at that time. The cathedral was built in 3 years.Easter, April 11, 1880, dedication and inauguration of the late director Colombert be held in the presence of the Governor of Nam Ky Le Myre de Vilers. Currently, on a pedestal above, inside the church door, with a marble table in the lobby add (transept) record the date started, date opened and named the engineer.

All costs of construction, interior decoration are due to the South States Marshal covered, the amount of 2.5 million French francs at the exchange rate at that time. Initially, the church called the Church of State for the French state church building and money management.

In 1895, the church build two towers, each 57.6 m high tower and two towers with 6 large bronze bell weighs 28.85 tons. On top of the tower with a cross attached 3.50 m high, 2 m across, weighs 600 kg. Overall height from ground to the top of the cross is 60.50 m.

Source: thuyngakhanhhoa