The Notre Dame de Paris ("Our Lady of Paris") is notable for many different reasons. It is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world, and was actually one of the first cathedrals to be built in the Gothic style. It was under construction for most of the Gothic period, from 1163 to 1345. The land that it stands on was the site of the first cathedral in Paris, Saint-Étiennen Basilica. Before that, it was also the site of a temple to the Roman god Jupiter. The cathedral lies on the eastern half of an island in the middle of the Seine River, in the exact geographic center of Paris.

There are countless architectural features that could be mentioned in reference to the Notre Dame cathedral, but one of the most striking features is the veritable flock of gargoyles gracing the heights of its walls and towers. They consist of both true gargoyles – statues that carry water away from the building — and grotesques, which are there for purely ornamental or symbolic purposes. There is a legend concerning the gargoyles. According to the legend, they were originally driven out of the cathedral by the Virgin Mary (for whom the cathedral is named), who then placed them on the walls outside as guardians.

Many of the original gargoyles had weathered away to the point of being unrecognizable by the 1800s. The rest of the cathedral was also in disrepair, and the possibility was considered that the cathedral might be taken down. However, Victor Hugo's book The Hunchback of Notre Dame sparked enough interest that a campaign began to raise money for a restoration. Beginning in 1845, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc set out to restore the cathedral, and its gargoyles along with it. Most of the gargoyles that are part of the cathedral now are a result of this restoration, but there are a few originals from the medieval construction that can still be seen. The gargoyles of Notre Dame have remained virtually unchanged since the restoration was completed around 1868, and today they are one of the most popular features of the cathedral. If you ever get a chance to visit Notre Dame, make sure to climb the steps of the bell tower on the west side. At the top, you will be only a few feet from some of the gargoyles as they keep their watch over the city.

Research taken from the following sources:

Wikipedia contributors, "Notre Dame de Paris," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris (accessed June 9, 2006).

http://www.usask.ca/antiquities/Collection/Gargoyle.html Accessed 6/9/2006

Copyright 2006, www.OutdoorDecor.com
Jason Way , OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer