Constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries, Notre-Dame de Paris has centuries of French
history
built into its stone. The Gothic cathedral reflects the prominent role of Paris as an economic and spiritual center in the 12th century, and its scars from the French Revolution are reminders of its long connection with the monarchy—a connection that almost resulted in its demolition. Thousands of tourists entered its doors each day to photograph its rose windows and flying buttresses.
On April 15, 2019, a catastrophic blaze erupted within the structure. The stonework suffered extensive damage, along with its timber rafters, iron pinnacle, and various parts being obliterated. Numerous firefighters endeavored to extinguish the inferno. As soon as the ashes began cooling down, President Emmanuel Macron pledged that reconstruction efforts would commence, emphasizing his commitment.
more beautifully
, in five years.
Now that the refurbishment of the building is almost finished,
reopening day
scheduled for December 2024, and tourists gathering in Paris for the
Summer Olympics
, let’s dive into 13 lesser-known facts about Notre-Dame de Paris.
A heathen city exists beneath the cathedral.
The Île-de-la-Cité where Notre-Dame de Paris currently stands used to be a Gallo-Roman settlement called Lutetia. It’s possible that the cathedral was constructed directly above remnants of an old temple; around 1710, parts of a carved altar devoted to Jupiter and various gods were unearthed during excavations beneath the choir area (though it hasn’t been definitively established whether these artifacts indicate an ancient temple site or if they had simply been relocated there earlier). In the 1960s and ’70s, additional structural relics from this early period were uncovered, with many items tracing their origins back to those times.
archaeological crypt
situated below the square directly in front of Notre-Dame.
The facade of Notre-Dame includes some elements made from reused architectural pieces.
On the west facade of Notre-Dame, there are three portals adorned with sculptures of saints and religious narratives. However, one portal stands out: The Portal Sainte-Anne displays an older artistic style than the others. This is evident in how rigidly posed the characters like the central Virgin and Child appear when contrasted with the more lifelike qualities seen elsewhere. This difference arises because the tympanum above this entrance, which includes these depictions, comes from a former Romanesque church.
close examination
In 1969, it was disclosed that it was initially not designed for this space and had been modified to suit the Gothic architecture.
Notre-Dame had a “forest” within its roof.
Prior to the fire, the cathedral housed one of the earliest remaining structures.
wood-timber frames
In Paris, approximately 52 acres of trees that were felled in the 12th century contributed to crafting each beam using timber from single trees. Because of this, the intricate network of historical wooden structures earned the moniker “the forest.”
Their flying buttresses set the Gothic trends.
The cathedral was
one of the earliest
structures built with exterior flying buttresses. They were constructed around its nave in the 12th century to lend support to the thin walls, after the need for more light in the incredibly tall church
required
Larger windows, hence more substantial supports. The visible flying buttresses turned into a distinctive feature of Gothic architecture, and even though there is
some debate
over whether Notre-Dame was the first church to have them, they certainly set the trend in sacred
architecture
.
Twenty-eight of its monarchs had their heads severed during the French Revolution.
In 1793, amidst the
French Revolution
, 28 statues depicting biblical kings in the cathedral were toppled using ropes and had their heads severed by a group of people.
Louis XVI
was
guillotined
Earlier that same year, all symbols related to the monarchy faced scrutiny. The damaged stones were ultimately discarded into a rubbish pile; the interior minister then addressed this issue.
ordering
The material can be reused for construction purposes. Not until 1977 did the leaders of 21 of these kingdoms have their heads
rediscovered
While working in the basement of the French Bank of Foreign Trade, they have now moved to a nearby location.
Musée de Cluny
.
The towers are not identical siblings.
Initially, it might seem that Notre-Dame’s twin towers are exactly alike. However, upon closer inspection, one can see that the north tower is actually different from the south.
a bit bigger
Than those in the southern part. Similar to all components of the cathedral, these structures were constructed gradually over time. This demonstrates that the cathedral serves as a mosaic of various architectural styles and leadership influences rather than being the result of a single individual’s design.
Its bells were once melted down for artillery.
The monarchs were not the sole components of Notre-Dame damaged during the French Revolution. Similar to numerous churches across France, this cathedral underwent significant changes at the close of the 18th century when it shifted from being a religious site dedicated to Christianity towards becoming an altar for the newly established Cult of Reason. Of its twenty total bells—one exception being the massive one cast in 1681—not many survived intact through these tumultuous times.
bourdon
called
Emmanuel
—were removed and
melted down
to make cannons.
Although the bells at Notre-Dame were
replaced
In the 1800s, the newly crafted instruments did not match the quality of their predecessors and produced a harsher sound when ringing. Ultimately, in 2013, a fresh set of bells was introduced for an ensemble.
restored
The cathedral echoes its 17th-century ambiance, where the richly resonating Emmanuel bell still joins in the peal during special occasions.
Napoleon and Victor Hugo helped prevent Notre-Dame from falling into ruins.
When
Napoleon Bonaparte
opted for his 1804 imperial crowning at Notre-Dame, but the structure was in poor condition. Over centuries, neglect as the city grew and evolved around it, coupled with the destruction during the French Revolution, had pushed it close to ruin. It had functionally become nothing more than a storage space over many years. Thus, when Napoleon announced its restoration for religious purposes and held his elaborate ceremony inside—where he notably placed the crown upon his own head—it reignited interest and importance in Notre-Dame.
Despite this, the coronation did not address its structural decay. In his 1831 novel, author Victor Hugo employed the edifice as a symbol of France.
Notre-Dame de Paris
. The title of the book is commonly rendered as
The Cathedral’s Quasimodo
, however, the bell-ringer Quasimodo is not the protagonist; the main character is actually Notre-Dame Cathedral itself.) Hugo masterfully depicted its dilapidated condition in 19th-century France:
But despite maintaining its nobility as it aged, one can’t help but lament and feel outraged by the countless desecrations and alterations imposed upon the ancient structure—both by the passage of time and the actions of people who were indifferent to its dignity.
Charlemagne
, who placed the initial stone, and Philip Augustus, who set the final one. This venerable matriarch among our cathedrals bears countless scars alongside every line etched upon her visage. ‘Tempus edax, homo edacior,’ which might be rendered as: ‘Time is oblivious, yet humanity is even more heedless.’”
The book was successful, and it gained traction as a result.
led
as part of a significant renovation led by architects Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
The creatures are contemporary, not medieval.
Several well-known depictions of Notre-Dame include views from inside the cathedral.
gargoyles
Or chimera (the sculpted beasts that do not function as waterspouts). Many who visit might not realize that the fantastical beings currently adorning the cathedral did not appear until the 19th century; they were added then.
added
Between 1843 and 1864, under the guidance of Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc during the Radical Restoration period.
Hugo had described gargoyles extensively in
Notre-Dame de Paris
, and Viollet-le-Duc was reportedly inspired by this romantic vision of the past. A
daguerreotype
Prior to this renovation, the structure appeared much starker compared to what we see now, lacking the decorative beasts atop its towers as all medieval-era gargoyles had been removed earlier. Before the fire occurred, numerous 19th-century gargoyles were already deteriorating; they had been replaced with PVC piping after being taken down due to safety concerns.
The gargoyles were not the sole fantastical additions made by architect Viollet-le-Duc. In addition to placing the 12 apostles atop his newly constructed spire, he chose to depict himself with the visage of Saint Thomas among them.
Its tower acted as a holy magnet for thunderbolts.
Pictures taken of the cathedral prior to the fire reveal a rooster perched atop the steeple. This rooster wasn’t merely ornamental; in 1935, small relics—a purported fragment from Christ’s Crown of Thorns along with fragments believed to be parts of Saints Denis and Genevieve (patron saints of Paris)—were placed inside the metal fowl’s structure. Supposedly, this arrangement aimed to function as an almost mystical lightning conductor meant for safeguarding those attending services within.
It is believed to have the largest organ in France.
The organ of Notre-Dame includes nearly
8000 pipes
(including some from the 18th century) features five keyboards, which makes it the largest pipe organ in France (though some argue that Saint-Eustache houses an even bigger one). This instrument underwent restoration in 2013 for the 850th anniversary of the cathedral, and luckily, it escaped damage during the fire in 2019 with minimal impact.
water damage
From the firefighters’ hoses. The cleaning and decontamination process is ongoing.
Every path leads to Notre-Dame de Paris.
Often overshadowed by the throngs of tourists bustling about outside Notre-Dame lies a tiny round marker featuring an eight-pointed bronze star set into the paving stones. Inscribed on it are the words.
Starting point of France’s roads
, serving as the reference point for measuring distances from Paris to other cities within France. It was positioned there.
in 1924
, although it had to be temporarily dislodged in the 1960s during the excavations for what was intended to be an underground parking garage. Those construction plans were thwarted when workers turned up architectural ruins—now kept in the archaeological crypt.
Bees continue to inhabit its rooftop.
In 2013, a tiny beehive was placed next to the Notre-Dame sacristy, which is close to the cathedral itself. This particular hive housed Buckfast bees—a breed created by a monk called Brother Adam and recognized for their docile nature. These bees produce honey derived primarily from flowers located in surrounding gardens such as the Square Jean XXIII situated right at the rear of the cathedral.
given away
to the poor.
Miraculously
, the 180,000 bees made it through the catastrophic fire. Unwilling to leave their queens behind, they stayed within their hives and lived off their stored honey. One year following the blaze, these resilient insects resumed pollinating flowers.
producing
the sugary treats as always.
Explore More About Renowned Structures:
A variant of this tale was released in 2018; it has since been refreshed for 2024.
This article was initially published on SANGGRALOKA.
13 Interesting Points Regarding the Notre-Dame Cathedral
.