Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening to the public after a five-year restoration following a devastating fire. This iconic Gothic masterpiece holds many surprising stories behind its grandeur. Here are five special things to know about Notre Dame:
The Heart of France, Literally
Notre Dame is not just a symbol of Paris—it’s also the starting point of all roads in France. A bronze-and-stone slab in front of the cathedral marks the “point zéro des routes de France,” where distances between Paris and other cities are measured. This concept dates back to 1769 when King Louis XV envisioned a central reference for France’s road network.
The Great Gargoyle Myth
The gargoyles of Notre Dame are iconic, but not all of them are original. In the 19th century, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc added chimera, inspired by Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” to the cathedral. Gargoyles are functional rainwater drains with spouts, while chimera are more decorative.
A Revolutionary Makeover
During the French Revolution, Notre Dame was stripped of its religious symbols and renamed “Notre-Dame de la Raison.” It was used for non-religious purposes until Napoleon I restored its sacred status in 1804.
The Beheaded Kings Who Returned Centuries Later
In 1792, revolutionaries mistakenly decapitated statues of ancient kings from Notre Dame’s facade. In 1977, the missing heads were discovered buried in Paris. Today, 22 of them are displayed at the Cluny Museum.
A Fiery Wake-up Call on Lead Dust
The 2019 fire at Notre Dame released toxic lead dust into Paris, highlighting a major health risk. The city had to conduct a deep-clean operation to address the contamination.
By Tom Nouvian
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