Unveiling Mysteries at Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral took 200 years to complete, employing skilled artisans instead of slave labor, and providing daily wages.

Unveiling Mysteries at Notre Dame Cathedral

One of France and Europe's most famous iconic structures is Notre Dame Cathedral. This Catholic treasure is over 850 years old. Situated on the small island of Ile de la Cite in the middle of the Seine River, the entire construction took 200 years to complete. It began in 1163 under the reign of Louis VII and Bishop Maurice de Sully and was finished in 1345. The old church of Saint-Etienne was demolished to build the larger Gothic-style cathedral.

Architectural Enigmas

Besides driving away demons and reminding sinners of impending hell, the grotesque animal head statues serve as rainwater spouts. Today, rainwater from the roof is still channeled through these spouts, flowing out from the mouths of these animal heads, ensuring the foundation of the structure remains dry and stable. This unique function also validates the origin of the word “gargoyle,” derived from the French verb “gargouiller,” meaning to gurgle. To find these special spouts, visitors can walk along the north side of the cathedral.

The Legend Behind the Headless Statue at Notre Dame Cathedral traces back to the story of Saint Denis, who was captured by Roman soldiers and beheaded in 250 on the hill of Montmartre. Legend has it that Saint Denis' headless body rose, picked up his head, and walked while preaching. Visitors approaching the left door at the West facade of the cathedral will encounter this peculiar statue.

Legend has it that hidden within the walls of the cathedral are numerous mysterious messages that will lead you to the Philosopher’s Stone, a mystical object capable of transmuting metal into gold and granting humans immortality. One of these messages is the medallions on the stained glass windows of the cathedral, believed to be the key to unlocking the secret of the stone. Visitors can observe these round medallions on both sides of the main doors of the cathedral.

Unlike the pyramids of Egypt or the temples of Rome, which relied on slave labor, the construction workers of Notre Dame Cathedral were mostly skilled artisans who were paid wages. However, to ensure workers received payment from the abundant finances of the Catholic church, a reliable system was necessary. Thus, each stonemason created their own unique mark to imprint on each stone they worked on, ensuring they received wages at the end of the day. Traces of these stonemasons’ marks can still be found around the stone columns along the walkway, near the chapels.

A small model inside the cathedral sheds light on the ingenuity of medieval craftsmanship. The model depicts a scene of the construction site with tools and miniature laborers at work. Visitors can find the model behind the main altar.

Historical Imprints

Notre Dame Cathedral not only boasts remarkable architecture but also bears witness to numerous glorious and tragic historical moments. Among them is the coronation of King Henry VI of England within its walls in 1431. The cathedral has faced periods of severe damage but was salvaged thanks to the coronation of Napoleon as emperor in 1804.

After undergoing renovations, Notre Dame Cathedral regained its pristine beauty during World War II. Rumors circulated that German forces had damaged the newly installed stained glass. Therefore, the stained glass had to be replaced again after the war ended. The replacement of the glass had to be done meticulously as it includes the world's largest stained glass window dating back to the 13th century.

When discussing the history of Notre Dame Cathedral, one cannot overlook the famous tale of Joan of Arc, who is well-documented in French history. She was a courageous and visionary figure, impoverished in material wealth but rich in spirit and character. Thanks to her, France defeated the English army with clever military strategies, making her a national heroine of France. However, she was captured and executed by the English on charges of heresy. On July 7, 1456, Joan of Arc was declared innocent and a martyr. In 1909, she was beatified by Pope Pius X at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Visitors to the cathedral today must climb 140 new steps to reach the bell tower. Nowadays, the cathedral bells are redesigned to ring automatically. Inside Notre Dame Cathedral, numerous historical artifacts are preserved, including the 17th-century organ, paintings, design sketches, and engravings depicting the cathedral's ancient secrets as well as the city of Paris.

Source: Huong Chi/Vnexpress

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide