On April 15, 2019, severe fire nearly brought down the thirteenth-century Gothic cathedral that sits in the heart of Paris. In the following days, to the surprise of many and dismay of some, news coverage and monetary pledges devoted to the event and its aftermath surpassed those being given to urgent humanitarian and political problems. In this highly interdisciplinary course, students will be given the tools with which to understand the architectural, cultural, religious, and historical significance of the Notre-Dame cathedral within the larger context of medieval religious architecture and of French literature and history. They will also be invited to think more broadly about such varied topics as sacred space, urbanization, the birth of the university, medieval revivals in the modern era, and the enduring allure of Gothic architecture (as represented on this campus by the Law School quadrangle). In the final course unit, students will be invited to reflect on and assess the varied rebuilding proposals that were proposed in the months following the fire. The course will have substantial historical, art historical, medieval studies, literary, architectural, and religious studies components.