Notre-Dame de Paris is gradually finding its fantastic creatures

Strange and grimacing creatures, gargoyles and chimeras are part of the soul of Notre-Dame de Paris. Guardians of the building, they were supposed to protect the cathedral from the wrath of heaven. Some of these fantastic animals did not survive the fire. For a few months, they have come back to life. Fanny Piéplu, sculptor, recreates one of these century-old creatures in clay, based on a photo. “It is not a Viollet-le-Duc, it is older. I think it dates from an 18th century restoration.“, she confides. The model will then be carved in stone.

The blocks of stone extracted from the quarries of the Oise arrived by river

The other flame-damaged chimeras have been restored. But too weakened by time, they will also be reproduced. They have a dozen sculptors working on the exceptional site. From the ornaments around the rosette to the foliage decorations, everything must be redone identically. Each piece represents at least three weeks of work.

As 800 years ago, the blocks of stone extracted from the quarries of the Oise arrived by river, to rebuild the vaults of Notre-Dame destroyed by the collapse of the spire. The four angels, each weighing 350 kg, have been positioned where the arrow will soon be enthroned.