Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud’s keynote presentation on the crucial role of cultural heritage in creating mutual understanding boils down to four essential elements; these converge to create a paradigm of ‘heritage’, making Notre-Dame the sacred place it is today.

In photo: Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud of École Pratique des Hautes Études during his Keynote Presentation at PCE/PCAH2025

What does cultural heritage mean? What exactly have we inherited from Notre-Dame, and why does it attract so many people today? These are questions that Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud of the École Pratique des Hautes Études, France, explored in his keynote presentation titled ‘Notre Dame de Paris: Holy Place, Sacred Edifice, and World Heritage Site.’

Today, when we look at Notre-Dame, we find ourselves in a place containing ‘the anamnesis of history, the memory of history that constantly returns to mind, and the magnetic influence of the sacred place’, said Professor Leniaud. For him, four essential elements converge to create a paradigm of ‘heritage’, making Notre-Dame the sacred place it is today.

First, due to its geomorphological aspect, situated between a mountain, a desert, a river, and a man-made bridge, it is a place where nature and humans come together, defying time. Second, it is an ancient sacred site, which holds traces of both paganism and Christianity, spanning a 900-year period of ancient wisdom and faith. Third, it is a meeting place between God, religion, civil power, and the nation. All major national events have taken place in Notre-Dame, including royal weddings and Napoleon’s coronation, giving the monument a ritual significance. According to Professor Leniaud, visiting Notre-Dame stems from ‘a desire to master this long span of history.’ Finally, the fourth element is the Cathedral’s artistic character. From its Gothic and Baroque architectural elements to its influence on literary works written by Victor Hugo and Eugène Sue, ‘it is a place that expresses itself through the arts,’ said Professor Leniaud.

Essentially, what we have inherited from Notre-Dame is history and the temporal wisdom that comes with it. We have inherited this through architecture, landscape and nature, literature, the arts, and human rituals. This is what makes Notre-Dame and every cultural heritage so sacred, Professor Leniaud concluded. Cultural heritage is more than a commercial attraction, as it is universally recognised as sacred and worth preserving. As such, it has the potential to unify people and create a space of mutual understanding and respect.

A product of its local culture and history, cultural heritage that has endured across generations not only reflects local identity and values that produced it but also holds something sacred that resonates with people globally. The concept of world heritage, first formalised and institutionalised by UNESCO in 1972, has such ‘outstanding universal value’ that its ownership transcends borders. Notre-Dame is undeniably rooted in French history and culture and has become a symbol of France as a nation, but the global outcry and its reconstruction efforts after the 2019 fire demonstrated the world’s shared responsibility in preserving local cultural heritage for humanity.

Watch the video below to know more about Professor Jean-Michel Leniaud’s insights on the topic.

Banner image: Jack McHugh, Unsplash