Saturday, 3 October 2026

Statue of Saint Christopher destroyed, cathedral made Temple of Reason in the French Revolution

Statue of Saint Christopher destroyed, cathedral made Temple of Reason in the French Revolution

The Statue of Saint Christopher in Notre-Dame.

The colossal statue of Saint Christopher, dated to 1433 and standing opposite the pillar by the west entrance of the Cathedral, was destroyed during the French Revolution. The Cathedral was turned into a "Temple of Reason". Inside it they set up a statue of Liberty and busts of Voltaire and Rousseau, and in the choir they lit an "eternal flame of truth".

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