This Sunday, Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen its doors to the public, having undergone a five-year restoration after a devastating fire in 2019. More than an emblem of Gothic architecture and a tourist magnet, Notre Dame hides fascinating stories ranging from medieval myths to modern secrets.
Here are five surprising facts you may not have known about this iconic Parisian monument.
France’s Ground Zero: The Geographical Heart of the Country
Notre Dame is not only a symbol of Paris, it also represents the starting point for all roads in France. In front of the cathedral, a discreet bronze and stone plaque, installed in 1924, marks this spot as the “ground zero” of the national road network.
Although the plaque is relatively new, the idea of this geographical center began in 1769, when King Louis XV proposed a place from which to measure the distance to other cities in the country.
Gargoyles: More Than Just Stone Figures
Notre Dame‘s gargoyles, famous for their monstrous forms, are not as old as they seem. The first gargoyles, designed to drain rainwater, were part of the original construction of the cathedral in the 12th and 14th centuries.
However, the terrifying figures we know today were added much later, in the 19th century, during the restoration led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who was inspired by Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” to give them a mystical touch.
The French Revolution: Notre Dame and its Change of Role
The cathedral underwent a radical transformation during the French Revolution. In 1793, it was stripped of its religious symbols and renamed “Notre-Dame de la Raison” (Our Lady of Reason). Instead of being a center of worship, it served as a venue for festivals celebrating science and the Enlightenment, and was even used as a wine warehouse.
It was only in 1795 that religious services were reestablished, and later, in 1804, Napoleon I reconsecrated it during his coronation.
The Story of the Lost Heads of Notre Dame Kings
In 1792, during the revolutionary upheavals, revolutionaries beheaded 28 statues from the façade of the cathedral, believing they represented French monarchs. However, these figures were actually kings of Judah, ancestors of Jesus. It was thought that the heads had disappeared forever, but in 1977, an archaeological find in Paris revealed the fragments of the lost sculptures.
Today, 22 of these restored heads can be admired at the Cluny Museum.
The Fire of 2019: A Challenge to Health Security
The Notre Dame fire also brought to light a serious health issue. As the cathedral’s roof melted, tons of toxic lead dust was released into the air, blanketing the streets of Paris. Authorities discovered that there were no regulations on lead pollution in open spaces.
This event forced a review of safety regulations and prompted a thorough cleanup of the city, which lasted four months.
Notre Dame is not only an architectural marvel, but also a witness to the most significant events in the history of France.
For more political, business, technological and cultural information visit all of our Mundo Ejecutivo platforms.
