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All France Dijon The Magic Owl of Dijon

The Magic Owl of Dijon

For over 300 years this little carving has been the city’s good luck charm.

Dijon, France

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blocholivier1
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The owl figure is found on north side of of Notre Dame de Dijon   StéphaneMarie
The Gothic church is also famous for its gargoyles   christophefinot
Despite time and a lot of hands, the owl figure is still visible   christophefinot
The sign says “Pedestrian area under video surveillance…” - this kid doesn’t seem to mind   Jellopi
One of the city markers along the Owl’s Trail   put the needle on the record
The owl’s face is well-worn, but not his luck   Dennis Jarvis
Magic Owl   fflewddur 0dde022d / Atlas Obscura User
Magic owl  
The dragon that could take away your wish if you walk past it after making it.   brianpayneyvp / Atlas Obscura User
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About

There is a small stone owl carved into a corner of the oldest church in Dijon, France. His face has seen better days and he’s less than a foot tall, but for over three centuries he’s had a big job: granting wishes to all who reach up and stroke his little face.

This is the Owl of Notre Dame de Dijon, the city’s symbol and unofficial talisman. The carving sits about six feet off the ground on an otherwise unremarkable corner of the church, and as the tradition goes, if you touch him with your left hand and make a wish, your wish will come true.

The original Gothic structure of Notre Dame dates to the 13th century, but the owl isn’t nearly so old. He was added—no one knows why or by whom—during the construction of a more modern chapel (and by European church standards, “modern” means early 16th century) on the north wall. Here, the narrow pedestrian street is called Rue de la Chouette, "Owl Street."

Dijon is no out-of-the-way place, and the church is dead center, so you can imagine how many left hands have touched the carving over the course of more than three hundred years. His face, probably once well-defined, now looks more like a melted wax candle of an owl.

The pint-sized bird has come to symbolize Dijon, the capital of the region of Burgundy (as in wine country—it’s not all mustard here). Owls represent everything from the local football team to official tourism destinations, marked with brass plaques of cartoon owls that form a trail of sites around the city.

The history of the owl as a symbol of wisdom goes back to Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom who was represented as one in her animal form. Right up through the old Tootsi-Pop commercial (“I’ve never made it without biting… ask Mr. Owl”), the bird has been associated with stolid and steady smarts. In Dijon, they’ve added a touch of magic.

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Luck Magic Churches Folklore Statues Birds Animals Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Notre Dame de Dijon is in the center of the city, just off Rue de la Préfecture. The city itself is located between Paris and Lyons, reachable by air, car, bus or train. Once in town, the city center is easy walking, and the owl is on the north side of the church, on Rue de la Chouette (Owl Street). In 2001 the owl was damaged by vandals, but it was repaired and today is closely monitored by video camera. You can see where repairs were made, but no one thinks his luck has run out.

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blocholivier1

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Fubulous, randyfix2, fflewddur 0dde022d, Yorkshire...

  • Fubulous
  • randyfix2
  • fflewddur 0dde022d
  • Yorkshire
  • brianpayneyvp

Published

September 20, 2016

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Notre-Dame_of_Dijon
  • http://www.dijon4.me/webotd_v6/images/otdijon_fr.ico
  • https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dijon
  • http://www.destinationdijon.com/en/dijon-visite-parcours_chouette.htm
The Magic Owl of Dijon
11 Rue de la Chouette
1 Place Notre Dame
Dijon, 21000
France
47.322805, 5.041586
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