On December 8, 2024, the Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen its doors, fully restored after the devastating 2019 fire. This reopening marks a celebration of resilience for the eight-century-old structure. Before the fire, this UNESCO World Heritage site welcomed millions annually, drawn to its architecture and history. As you plan your visit, consider these intriguing secrets that will make your adventure even more fascinating.
10. The Middle Eastern Connection
Gothic architecture is often seen as uniquely European, but it has Middle Eastern roots. Notre Dame’s twin towers resemble the 5th-century Syrian church Qalb Lozeh. Crusaders brought this basic design back to Europe, planting the seed for the Gothic style. Pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, rose windows, and spires—all Gothic elements—were inspired by Islamic designs. The pointed arches come from Cairo’s Ibn Tulun mosque, ribbed vaulting from Iraq’s Abbasid palace of Ukhaider, the rose window from the Umayyad palace of Khirbat Mafjar, and the spire from the mosque of Damascus. Sir Christopher Wren even preferred calling the style “Saracenic” instead of Gothic.
9. St. Etienne Cathedral
Notre Dame wasn’t the first church on Ile de la Cite. The Romans considered it a sacred site and built a Temple of Jupiter there. When Christians took over, they replaced it with a church dedicated to St. Etienne (Stephen) in the 4th century. This church was remodeled and enlarged into a cathedral. Bishop Maurice de Sully, inspired by the Basilica of St. Denis, decided to build Notre Dame in its place. Construction began in 1165, but Sully died long before its completion. A piece of St. Etienne was incorporated into Notre Dame as the Portal of St. Anne.
8. Sacred Geometry
Notre Dame’s measurements and architectural elements encode theological messages. The number seven, representing divine perfection, appears throughout the cathedral. The nave is divided into seven bays, supported by seven flying buttresses on each side. The total of 153 bays represents the number of fish caught by the apostles. The main level is 30 cubits high, like Noah’s Ark. The Vesica Piscis, a geometrical motif symbolizing the union of God and man, determines key intersection points in the floor plan. The soaring verticality draws the eyes upward to heaven, and the facade’s pyramid shape, with the Rose Window as its apex, mirrors the Great Pyramid’s role as a unifier of heaven and earth. Notre Dame is truly “music set in stone.”
7. Iron Staples
Notre Dame, reaching 105 feet, was the tallest building of its time. Its thin walls support the vaulted ceiling with the help of iron staples. The 2019 fire exposed these staples, revealing that Notre Dame was the first Gothic cathedral to use iron extensively. Thousands of iron staples, each 8-20 inches long, hold the stones together. Earlier structures used wooden tie rods, but iron is more durable and easier to conceal. This “iron skeleton” was later adopted by other Gothic cathedrals, enhancing their structural integrity.
6. The Devil’s Doors
The intricate ironwork of Notre Dame’s main doors, created by a young metalworker named Biscornet, amazes people even today. Some said Biscornet made a pact with the Devil. His name, translating to “two-horned,” added to the rumors. Some claimed to find him unconscious in his workshop, the work magically finished. Priests said the doors wouldn’t open until sprinkled with holy water. Biscornet died shortly after, and Parisians believed the Devil had taken his soul. Despite its unholy reputation, the church retained the ironwork, which remains a masterpiece.
5. The Philosopher’s Stone
The book Le Mystere des Cathedrales claimed that Notre Dame displays the secrets of alchemy. The roof of the North Tower features an alchemist wearing a Phrygian hat. The Portal of the Last Judgment, the cathedral’s main door, holds the key to the Philosopher’s Stone. The portal’s central column depicts a woman with a ladder of nine rungs, representing the steps of alchemical labor. Bas-reliefs show stages of the alchemical process. Even the positioning of sculpted apostles and an eagle point to hidden messages related to alchemy.
4. The Ghosts on the Roof
Notre Dame is said to be haunted by a phantom bellringer, decapitated men, and Biscornet’s spirit. The most frequent ghostly visitors are two women seen on the roof. The story tells of a young woman, M.J., who, after being initially refused entry to the tower, found a chaperone. She later fell to her death from the tower. The elderly lady vanished, and both their ghosts continue to tour the rooftop for eternity.
3. The Headless Statues
The Gallery of Kings, featuring 28 figures representing the kings of Judah, was vandalized during the French Revolution by mobs who mistook them for French kings. The heads were smashed off and eventually buried as part of a mansion’s foundations. In 1977, workers unearthed 21 of these heads. Examination revealed traces of polychromy, indicating that Notre Dame was once painted. The heads are now displayed at the Cluny Museum.
2. Signed, Viollet le Duc
During the French Revolution, Notre Dame was badly damaged and used as a warehouse. Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame sparked renewed interest in the cathedral. Architect Eugene Viollet le Duc restored Notre Dame, adding the chimera, grotesques, and the spire. He “signed” his work by making the statue of the apostle Thomas and a restored head on the Gallery of Kings look like himself. The restoration was completed in 1864, saving Notre Dame from demolition.
1. The Heroes of Hotel Dieu
In 1871, Paris was engulfed in a rebellion by the Communards. M. Hanot, a surgeon at Hotel Dieu hospital, noticed suspicious activity near Notre Dame. Communards were setting up burning braziers inside the cathedral. Hanot, along with other surgeons and volunteers, doused the flames, saving Notre Dame for the third time. The brave doctors of Hotel Dieu prevented the destruction of both the cathedral and the adjacent hospital.
Notre Dame Cathedral is more than just a beautiful building; it’s a treasure trove of secrets and stories. From its surprising Middle Eastern architectural influences to the ghostly legends haunting its rooftops, each element adds to its mystique. As it reopens post-restoration, these hidden tales will surely enrich your visit.
Which of these secrets surprised you the most? Leave your comment below!
