> Which European landmark was at risk of being demolished, until a certain book byVictor Hugo was published in 1831?And the answer: Notre Dame Cathedral.The French author Victor Hugo considered his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a story about the cathedral itself, and devoted two chapters of the book todescribing it. Hugo believed Gothic architecture symbolized the culturalheritage of France and that it should be protected.Photo credit: public domain.Thanks to Victor Hugo[https://www.askqotd.com/victor-hugo-and-notre-dame/], the magnificent NotreDame Cathedral still stands tall today. Centuries of French history sit withinits walls, from its original construction in the 12th-14th centuries to the firewhich broke out in 2019. It bears scars of the French Revolution, multiplestyles reflecting different eras of art, and most of all, spiritual significanceas a cultural hub for French culture dating back to the time of Charlemagne[https://www.askqotd.com/charlemagne/]. Interestingly, its disparate eras of existence can be seen from the outside. Oneof the entrances to the cathedral, the Sainte-Anne portal, is decorated with ascene of the Virgin Mary with child that doesn't quite...fit. Their stiff posesand unnatural features indicate that it is a work which was recycled for a newpurpose. This doorway was originally built for another Romanesque church, andlater added to Notre Dame's Gothic style. Even Notre Dame's iconic towers aren't quite as picture perfect as they seem. Infact, the north tower is slightly bigger than the south, as the latter was builtlater. This reflects the time and effort it took to construct such a magnificentcathedral, as well as the collage of architecture which comprises it. Learn more about the history and architecture of Notre Dame here[https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/10-facts-about-notre-dame-cathedral/].