PARIS — Notre Dame Cathedral is preparing to reopen to the public on Sunday, marking the end of a five-year restoration project that followed a catastrophic fire. This iconic structure is celebrated as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, a symbol of Paris, and a major destination for tourists from around the world.
Despite its majestic appearance and rich history, Notre Dame holds several lesser-known stories that add to its allure. From medieval folklore to contemporary enigmas, here are five intriguing facts about this renowned Parisian landmark.
The Heart of France, Literally
Notre Dame is more than just a historical site; it serves as the literal origin point for all road measurements in France. In front of the cathedral, a humble bronze-and-stone plaque embedded in the cobblestones reads “point zéro des routes de France,” translating to “starting point of the roads of France.” This marker indicates where distances from Paris to other cities across the nation begin.
Though the plaque was installed in 1924, the concept of a national reference point originates from 1769, when King Louis XV sought to create a central point for France’s expanding road network, emphasizing the centrality of Paris in the country’s geography.
The Great Gargoyle Myth
What might appear as ancient grotesques are not entirely what they seem. While the original gargoyles function as rainwater drainage systems and date back to the cathedral’s construction, many of the famous stone figures that tourists recognize today are chimera, which were added later. In the 19th century, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, tasked with restoring the cathedral, introduced these dramatic creatures to heighten its mystique, inspired by Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
To distinguish between the two, gargoyles can be identified by their horizontal spikes and holes in their mouths, designed for water drainage, as opposed to the more elaborate chimeras.
A Revolutionary Makeover
Notre Dame was not spared from the tumult of the French Revolution. In 1793, revolutionaries desecrated the cathedral, stripping it of its religious artifacts and renaming it “Notre-Dame de la Raison” (Our Lady of Reason). During this time, Notre Dame became a venue for festivals that celebrated science and enlightenment, even serving briefly as a wine warehouse.
Religious services resumed in 1795, and the cathedral’s sacred status was notably reinstated when French emperor Napoleon I had his coronation there in 1804, a moment immortalized in a renowned painting by Jacques-Louis David.
The Beheaded Kings Who Returned Centuries Later
In a further act of revolution, 1792 saw the decapitation of 28 statues from Notre Dame’s façade. Mistaken for French kings, the figures were actually representations of ancient kings of Judah, biblical ancestors of Jesus. Their heads were believed lost, either destroyed or repurposed as building materials.
However, in 1977, during renovation work in a courtyard in Paris’ 9th arrondissement, many fragments of these sculptures were uncovered. Experts identified them as the missing heads, and while the exact circumstances that led to their burial remain unclear, 22 of the heads have since been restored and can be viewed at the Cluny Museum in Paris, marking a significant archaeological discovery in the city’s recent history.
A Fiery Wake-up Call on Lead Dust
The destructive fire at Notre Dame in 2019 brought to light a serious health concern involving lead dust. As the flames engulfed the roof, a significant amount of toxic lead particles were released into the atmosphere and drifted across Paris. Alarmingly, there were no established regulations regarding the measurement of outdoor lead dust exposure.
This issue extends beyond Paris, as major cities like London and Rome, as well as the World Health Organization, lack guidelines for outdoor lead pollution. The aftermath of the Notre Dame fire spurred officials to reassess safety standards, leading to an extensive cleanup operation that took four months to complete, all while residents, tourists, and merchants continued to navigate the area.