BesuchszeitenGeschlossen (New Year’s Day)
Donnerstag, Januar 1, 2026
Parvis Notre‑Dame – Place Jean‑Paul II, 75004 Paris, Frankreich
Zurück zu history
war

Notre‑Dame in War: Protection and Symbolism

A history of Notre‑Dame during WWI and WWII: protective measures, civic presence, and endurance amid conflict.

1/8/2026
15 min read
Sandbags protecting Notre‑Dame’s façade during wartime

Notre‑Dame became a civic sentinel during the world wars. Sandbags, guard posts, and protocols shielded stone from shock and shrapnel.


🪖 Protective Measures

  • Sandbagging: Façades and windows buffered against blasts.
  • Monitoring: Patrol logs kept in sacristy records.
  • Repair cycles: Chips and cracks cataloged by masons.

🗓️ Events & Presence

  • WWI: Precautions for artillery and air raids.
  • WWII: Occupation era vigil and symbolic services.

Protection in WWII

The cathedral’s steady presence helped anchor civic morale.

[^memory]: Wartime diaries note the cathedral as a point of orientation and hope.

Über den Autor

Cultural Historian

Cultural Historian

Als Paris‑Liebhaber und aufmerksamer Reisender habe ich diesen Guide geschaffen, um Besucher mit den Geschichten von Notre‑Dame zu verbinden — wo Glaube, Handwerk und Gemeinschaft sich begegnen.

Tags

WWI
WWII
Protection
Symbol

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Loading comments...