You do not actually need to enter Notre Dame to experience its deep history. Because the exterior walls function as a stone book, they offer stories of alchemy, revolution, and geography to anyone who knows where to look.
Below are the essential stops for an immersive exterior walking tour.
Stop 1: Point Zero
Start your journey at the square, known as the Place du Parvis. Search the ground for an octagonal brass star; this is Point Zero.
Notably, this marker identifies the exact center of Paris and serves as the spot from which all distances in France are measured. While it appears to be a humble marker for such a grand location, it represents the centralization of the French state. Many visitors stand on it for good luck before continuing their tour.
Stop 2: The Gallery of Kings
If you look above the three main doors, you will see a row of 28 stone statues known as the Kings of Judah.
During the French Revolution, an angry mob mistakenly identified these as the Kings of France. Because they hated the monarchy, the revolutionaries used ladders to climb up and smash the heads off every single statue. Although the statues you see today are 19th-century replacements, the original severed heads were discovered in the 1970s buried in a Paris basement. Today, those original artifacts are displayed at the Musée de Cluny.
Stop 3: Saint Denis
Next, observe the Portal of the Virgin (the door on the left). As you examine the statues surrounding the arch, you will notice one saint holding his own head in his hands.
This figure is Saint Denis, the patron saint of Paris. According to legend, after Romans decapitated him on Montmartre, he miraculously picked up his head and walked six kilometers while preaching a sermon the entire way.
Stop 4: The Alchemy Carvings
In the center portal, you can find small stone medallions carved at eye level. Interestingly, some historians and authors like Victor Hugo believed these depicted the secret steps of alchemy, such as turning lead into gold. While these are likely religious metaphors, the strange carvings continue to fascinate occult historians today.
Stop 5: The Gargoyles and Water Management
To see the gargoyles in action, walk around the side of the cathedral toward the garden. From this angle, you can clearly see the flying buttresses.
Notice how long their necks are; this design ensures that rainwater lands on the grass far away from the building to prevent stone erosion. Consequently, they serve as both decorative guardians and vital structural protectors.
Why You Should Walk the Perimeter
While the interior is traditionally for prayer, the exterior was designed for teaching. Because most people in the Middle Ages could not read, these carvings served as a “visual Bible” for history and science. If you take twenty minutes to walk the perimeter, you will see the entire history of France carved into limestone.
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