Notre Dame and the Wolves of Paris

Here are some more photos of the Notre Dame, I posted another one a few days ago. This building is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic Architecture. Interestingly, when reading about the building I happened upon a note in the chronological history stating that in the year 1450 “The Wolves of Paris” were killed on the parvis of the Notre Dame cathedral… I assumed The Wolves of Paris was, perhaps, a gang of thieves or a group of political dissidents. Curious I looked for more information discovering that they were, in fact, wolves.

Here’s a quick overview from Wikipedia:

“The animals entered the city during the winter through breaches in its walls. A wolf named Courtaud, or “Bobtail”, was the leader of the pack. Reports of the animal being reddish in color may be indicative of an Iberian Wolf, perhaps having migrated from the Pyrenees.Eventually, the wolves were killed when Parisians, furious at the deaths, lured Courtaud and his pack into the heart of the city. There the Parisians stoned and speared to death the wolves in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral.”

Indeed, the Paris of 1450 twas a different place then the Paris of 2012.

Click individual photos to enlarge…