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Paris through the Ages-The Grand Notre Dame Tour Part 3-Mysteries, Red door and flying buttresses (all credit to Arthur Gillette)

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On a few meters along rue du Cloitre-Notre-Dame the RED DOOR decorated by Pierre de Montreuil between 1250 and 1270 with floral and animal figures said to have been inspired by oriental designs. In the lintel, an angel crowns Mary while Jesus blesses her, holding the book of life in his other hand. Looking in adoration here are King St.Louis IX (left) and his Queen, Marguerite de Provence (right) during whose reign the red door was built. “Reading” the archcurve from left up and then down to the right, you find six episodes of the life of St.Marcel, a popular 5th century bishop of Paris.
Moving along the sidewalk we now come on A SERIES OF BAS RELIEFS about Mary, mutilated but four of which are recognizable.
Let’s now walk into THE JOHN XIII SQUARE and take a seat. Note that the Gothic fountain that figures prominently in so many tourist photos and videos was, in fact, erected in 1845; Above all, look up at the FLYING BUTTRESSES: according to one computer study, if the point where each buttress receives the thrust of the roof’s weight were moved a few centimeters up, down or to the side, a goodly part of the structure would come tumbling down. How such perfect precision in the 14th century calculations appears to be an unresolved question.
Step for a moment on to the Pont de l’Archévéché bridge, and look up to the base of the Cathedral’s spire. There you see FOUR VERTICAL STATUE ROWS OF THREE APOSTLES each. What better place to put them? They preach the “urbi et orbi”. Ah! But wait a minute! One of the apostles-at the top of the row entirely visible from this bridge- has turned his back on “the city and the world” and is looking in wonderment at the spire, shielding himself from its overpowering fascination with his left fore arm. Who might he be? None other than Doubting Thomas. And why this gesture? Because the spire was a much-criticized part of Viollet le Duc’s restoration, and this was the architect’s somewhat truculent response, the more so since the face of this particular St.Thomas was fashioned as a likeness of Viollet le Duc himself!
Now, along the southern side of the cathedral to ST.STEPHEN’S PORTAL which most unfortunately can only be viewed from a distance through a grillwork fence. Binoculars are useful here! Recounted in the lintel and the tympanum are episodes of the life of the first Christian martyr, Saint-Stephen. Through the garden’s gate now (note the military, castle-keep impression made by this southern tower, with its archers’ slits, and containing a room of asylum from which police were barred) and to the back (western) end of the “parvis”. From this vantage point we can discover some of the mysteries and unanswered questions surrounding Notre Dame. Look first at the HIGH GALLERY OF DELICATE COLUMNS RUNNING ACROSS TH WHOLE FAÇADE just below the towers. With the exception of some which have been repaired, each column is hewn from a single piece of stone. More, despite appearances, this almost lilting stonework is not merely decorative, but plays a structural role in consolidating the façade: take but one of these columns away and a major collapse would ensue; as with the flying buttresses, one wonders at the skill that produced such perfection.
Why, the, does Notre Dame also feature so much asymmetry??Examples will be given in my next article.

Bibliography:

Folder no 6 containing stroll number 6 of Pierre Gilette’s series about Paris through the ages edited by Media-Cartes They are still obtainable by mailing to  Armedv@aol.com