Chimeras of the South Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris

A close-up view of the stone exterior of the Notre-Dame de Paris south tower, featuring several carved animalistic figures perched upon the decorative Gothic balustrade. Two avian figures with spread wings sit atop the central balustrade, while a dog-like or feline gargoyle projects from the side. The grey limestone stonework is accented by bright blue plastic maintenance straps wrapped around the architectural carvings, indicating ongoing structural work.

These chimeras, while iconic, are largely 19th-century additions by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc during the Gothic Revival restoration of the cathedral, reflecting the era's fascination with medieval bestiaries and the grotesque.