Notre Dame gargoyle – Paris, January 2006
Notre Dame de Paris is undoubtedly the most famous cathedral in France, if not the world, thanks to Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Standing on one of the 2 small islands in the middle of the Seine, it is one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture and took nearly 200 years to build (1163-1345). You can ascend the vertiginous staircase in the left hand tower to reach the walkways across the cathedral roof and the top of the towers themselves, from where you have a beautiful view over Paris. Sharing the parapet with you are dozens of intricately carved stone gargoyles in fantastic beast shapes, added during a restoration project in the 1800s. Their practical purpose is to provide outlets for the rainwater gutters, but it is also said that their startling appearance is meant to ward off evil spirits
This one has a prime position as he gazes out over the Eiffel Tower and the gloriously gilded dome of Les Invalides.
Saturday Snapshots is a series of non-food photographs published every Saturday on CookSister. Previously featured photographs can be viewed on the Saturday Snapshots archive pages. Many photos featured in Saturday Snapshots are available to buy as high-quality greeting cards or prints in my RedBubble store.
Natalian says
February 7, 2009 at 6:36 pmI love the way you have captured this gargoyle looking out over Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It is as if it has a story to tell! Amazing how these sculptures, as old as they are, have survived the weather and pollution and are still around for us to admire!
Helen says
February 8, 2009 at 4:53 pmFantastic picture! Have you ever been to Oxford? Great gargoyles there too, although none as good as this one I don’t think. Especially with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Cynthia Nelson says
February 8, 2009 at 5:56 pmI am enjoying this series.
Michelle says
February 9, 2009 at 10:29 amGreat shot! I tend to think the gargoyles rather attract evil spirits with those creepy faces of theirs….
takeaway says
February 9, 2009 at 3:43 pmReminds me of my ex wife and her mother!
Paz says
February 10, 2009 at 12:22 amOh, wow! Wonderful photo.
Paz