Notre Dame Cathedral, a symbol of Paris and a tourist mecca, holds many secrets beyond its grand Gothic architecture. Here are five surprising things to know about this iconic landmark.
The cathedral’s significance extends beyond its stunning design, as it is literally the starting point for measuring distances from France. A bronze-and-stone slab embedded in the cobblestones marks “point zéro des routes de France,” or “starting point of the roads of France.” This concept dates back to 1769 and was envisioned by King Louis XV.
Medieval myths surround the cathedral’s gargoyles, but not all are what they seem. The actual gargoyles, used to drain rainwater, have been present since construction began. However, the dramatic figures often depicted in postcards and movies are chimera, added in the 19th century by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
During the French Revolution, Notre Dame was stripped of its religious symbols and renamed “Notre-Dame de la Raison.” The cathedral hosted festivals celebrating science and Enlightenment ideas before returning to its sacred status under Napoleon I.
In 1792, revolutionaries decapitated 28 ancient stone sculptures from the facade, mistakenly believing they were French monarchs. In 1977, hundreds of fragments were discovered in a courtyard renovation, revealing the missing heads of Notre Dame’s kings. Today, 22 restored heads are displayed at the Cluny Museum.
A devastating fire in 2019 highlighted a hidden health risk: toxic lead dust released into the air and settling across Paris. The lack of guidelines for outdoor lead pollution led authorities to review their safety standards, completing a deep-clean operation four months later.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-cathedral-reopens-paris-192a2c5f4a8ded6e29ac2ff8660e04f4