Editing Notre-Dame de Paris (section)

==Burials and crypts==
{{hatnote|For the Archeological Crypt located outside of Notre-Dame, see [[Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II]].}}
{{Category see also|Burials at Notre-Dame de Paris}}
Unlike some other French cathedrals, Notre-Dame was originally constructed without a [[crypt]]. In the medieval period, burials were made directly into the floor of the church, or in above-ground [[Sarcophagus|sarcophagi]], some with [[Tomb effigy|tomb effigies]] (French: ''gisant''). High-ranking clergy and some royals were buried in the choir and apse, and many others, including lower-ranking clergy and lay people, were buried in the nave or chapels. There is no surviving complete record of the burials.

In 1699, many of the choir tombs were disturbed or covered over during a major renovation project. Remains which were exhumed were reburied in a common tomb beside the high altar. In 1711, a small crypt measuring about {{convert|6|by|6|m|ft|spell=in}} was dug out in the middle of the choir which was used as a burial vault for the archbishops, if they had not requested to be buried elsewhere. It was during this excavation that the 1st-century [[Pillar of the Boatmen]] was discovered.<ref>{{cite book |last=Busson |first=Didier |title=Carte archéologique de la Gaule: 75, Paris |date=1998 |publisher=Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |isbn=2-87754-056-1 |location=Paris, France |pages=445–446}}</ref> In 1758, three more crypts were dug in the Chapel of Saint-Georges to be used for burials of canons of Notre-Dame. In 1765, a larger crypt was built under the nave to be used for burials of canons, beneficiaries, chaplains, cantors, and choirboys. Between 1771 and 1773, the cathedral floor was repaved with black and white marble tiles, which covered over most of the remaining tombs. This prevented many of these tombs from being disturbed during the [[French Revolution]].

In 1858, the choir crypt was expanded to stretch most of the length of the choir. During this project, many medieval tombs were rediscovered. Likewise the nave crypt was also rediscovered in 1863 when a larger vault was dug out to install a vault heater. Many other tombs are also located in the chapels.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pénin|first=Marie Christine|title=Tombes et sepultures dans les cimetieres et autrex lieux|url=http://www.tombes-sepultures.com/crbst_816.html|access-date=1 January 2021|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530172641/https://www.tombes-sepultures.com/crbst_816.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Gueffier 1763.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="220">
File:Tombeau d'Eudes de Sully, détail.jpg|[[Eudes de Sully]] was the first bishop to be buried in Notre-Dame. His copper-covered sarcophagus was placed in the middle of the choir where it remained for almost five centuries.
File:1 Tomb in ambulatory, Notre Dame in Paris, ZM.JPG|The tomb of bishop Matifort (died 1304) located behind the high altar is the only surviving medieval funerary sculpture at Notre-Dame.
File:Relevé du caveau des archevêques de Paris dans le chœur de Notre-Dame.jpg|Burial vault under the choir of Notre-Dame, {{Circa|1746}}. Pictured left to right are the tombs of Archbishops [[Charles-Gaspard-Guillaume de Vintimille du Luc|Vintimille]] and [[Jacques Bonne-Gigault de Bellefonds|Bellefonds]], the funerary urn of Archbishop [[Louis Antoine de Noailles|Noailles]], and two unidentified tombs.
File:Chapelle Saint Denis, Notre Dame.jpg|The tomb of [[Denis Auguste Affre|Archbishop Affre]] (1793–1848) in the Chapel of Saint-Denis. The sculpture depicts the archbishop's mortal wounding during the [[June Days uprising]] while holding an olive branch as a sign of peace. The inscription reads ''Puisse mon sang être le dernier versé!'' ("May my blood be the last shed!").
</gallery>