I’ve got a hunch…back

When Victor Hugo began writing his classic tale The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, his goal was to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of Gothic architecture.

There has always been a debate as to whether or not Quasimodo was based on a real person. An article published in 2010 references the memoirs of a 19th-century sculptor working at Notre Dame. The memoir mentions a stone carver employed in the cathedral’s construction who had a severe hunchback and kept to himself.

In the Disney version of events, Quasimodo is friends with the gargoyles of the Church and they talk to each other.

“To a gargoyle on the ramparts of Notre Dame as Esmeralda rides off with Gringoire Quasimodo says. “Why was I not made of stone like thee?”

More information can be found here…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre-Dame

https://theconversation.com/how-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-inspired-the-cathedrals-19th-century-revival-115614

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/british-archivist-discovers-the-real-life-quasimodo/article1388693/

Our Lady of Paris

With over 70 churches in the city of Paris, it can be overwhelming to take in them all. The one that absolutely cannot be missed is Notre Dame Cathedral.

Construction began on the towering edifice in 1136 and was mostly complete by 1260.

During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive damage and desecration. With many of its religious art damaged or destroyed, it wasn’t until Victor Hugo published his novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, that restoration efforts began.

In April of 2019, the roof of Notre-Dame caught fire and burned for 15 hours. The Cathedral will be restored to its former glory and is slated to re-open to the public in 2024.

For more information…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris