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Napoleon made a dramatic choice in 1804 to hold his coronation at Notre-Dame, instantly drawing attention to the cathedral. Yet, its future hung precariously during the Napoleonic Wars, and city officials even contemplated its demolition. This notion prompted a reaction from Hugo, a young author whose novel “Notre-Dame de Paris,” published in 1831, championed the dignity of the Gothic style and raised awareness of the cathedral's architectural significance.
The novel's instant success ushered in a substantial restoration in 1843, led by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who introduced many recognizable features of Notre-Dame today, including the whimsical gargoyles that adorn its towers.