The Notre-Dame Cathedral houses historical treasures

Paris - The Paris Cathedral of Notre-Dame, which was damaged by a fire on Monday, houses relics venerated by Catholics, remarkable organs, and many works of art, wrote the AFP agency.

This gem of Gothic architecture, plundered and destroyed during the French Revolution and again during the riots of 1831, has already lost some masterpieces. The liturgical treasure was among the richest in France before it disappeared in 1789 but has been gradually restored.

"The staff of Notre-Dame, architects, cultural ministry workers mobilized to clarify for the firefighters which works were worth saving at all costs," said Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to RTL today.

The most precious artifact stored in Notre-Dame is the Crown of Thorns, which, according to Catholics, was placed on the head of Jesus Christ just before the crucifixion. According to the cathedral's website, it consists of a wreath of intertwined branches with thorns, tied with golden threads, measuring 21 centimeters in diameter. This relic was successfully saved from the flames on Monday, as was the robe of Saint Louis, as stated by the temple's chief.

In addition to the Crown of Thorns, Notre-Dame holds two other relics from the Passion of Christ: a piece of the cross and a nail from the crucifixion.

Additionally, three relics were located in the weather vane on the small tower called the sanktusník, which collapsed on Monday evening: a piece from the Crown of Thorns and from the remains of Saint Denis and Saint Geneviève.

Among the three organs of Notre-Dame, the grand organ stands out with five manuals (keyboards), 109 registers, and nearly 8000 pipes. It was originally built in the 15th century and gradually enlarged until it reached its current form in the 18th century. It survived the Revolution unscathed, "undoubtedly thanks to the performance of patriotic music," as stated on the cathedral's website.

The three rose windows, circular stained glass windows depicting heavenly flowers, were created in the 13th century and have since been renovated several times. The two largest, northern and southern, have a diameter of 13 meters. In the medallions, prophets, saints, angels, and kings are depicted, along with scenes from the lives of saints. The three roses display the Virgin Mary, Jesus as a child, and Christ in their center.

In the sanctuary, leaning against the southeast pillar of the transept, is a statue of the Madonna and Child from the mid-14th century, which is the most famous of the 37 representations of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral.

Behind the altar is a monumental Pieta created by sculptor Nicolas Coustou between 1712 and 1728 on commission from Louis XIV, fulfilling the wish of his father, Louis XIII.

Last Thursday, 16 copper statues depicting the 12 apostles and four evangelists were removed from the cathedral tower for repair, thus escaping the disaster.

The Association of Parisian Goldsmiths donated a large canvas to the cathedral every May 1st between 1630 and 1707. Of the 76 large "May" canvases, 13 are currently located in various chapels of the cathedral.

On the western wall of the chapel of Saint William (Saint-Guillaume) hangs one of the most beautiful paintings of the cathedral, the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, painted by artist Jean Jouvenet (1716) as a masterpiece of the eighteenth century.

In the southern tower is the largest bell of the cathedral called the Bumblebee. It tolls during major Catholic holidays and significant events. It was cast over 300 years ago, and its godfather, Louis XIV, named it Emmanuel. It weighs 13 tons, and its clapper, suspended in the middle of the bell's body as its striking part, weighs 500 kg, added AFP.