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

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 → gutters → gargoyle spouts → air.
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.

Về Tác Giả

Architecture Historian

Với tình yêu Paris và lối du lịch cẩn trọng, tôi biên soạn cẩm nang này để giúp du khách chạm tới những câu chuyện của Notre‑Dame — nơi đức tin, nghề thủ công và cộng đồng giao hòa.