BesøgstiderLukket (New Year’s Day)
Torsdag, Januar 1, 2026
Parvis Notre‑Dame – Place Jean‑Paul II, 75004 Paris, Frankrig
Tilbage til architecture
details

Notre‑Dame Gargoyles: Stone, Water, Myth

A look at gargoyles and chimeras at Notre‑Dame—why they exist, how they work, and what they symbolize.

1/5/2026
14 min read
Close view of a gargoyle at Notre‑Dame

Gargoyles at Notre‑Dame are hydraulic devices wearing mythic masks. Their protruding spouts protect stone from runoff; their forms invite stories.


💧 Drainage & Durability

  • Water path: Roof runoff → guttersgargoyle spoutsair.
  • Splash control: Overhangs push water clear of façades.
  • Maintenance: Joints and stone lips checked for erosion.

🐉 Myth & Meaning

  • Chimeras: Imagined beasts that guard and warn.
  • Urban theatre: Faces frame the city and the Seine.
  • Photography: Twilight silhouettes become modern lore.

🔬 Stone & Weather

Factor Effect Action
Acid rain Surface loss Gentle cleaning
Freeze–thaw Micro‑cracks Monitor joints
Biological growth Staining Soft removal

Gargoyle at dusk

The gargoyle is a rain poem—architecture speaking in weather.

Forfatter

Architecture Historian

Architecture Historian

Som Paris‑elsker og omhyggelig rejsende har jeg skabt denne guide for at hjælpe besøgende med at forbinde sig med Notre‑Dames fortællinger — hvor tro, håndværk og fællesskab mødes.

Tags

Gargoyles
Chimeras
Drainage
Myth

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Loading comments...