There are many “rat ball” sculptures located around France. Saint-Germain-l’Auxer-rois in Paris, Le Mans Cathedral, and the church of Saint-Jacques de Meulan in Yvelines département Île-de-France are a few of the more prominent sculptures. The Carpentras Cathedral also features a very impressive “Boule aux Rats.”
No one really knows what these strange sculptures were designed to represent. They contain a sphere with rats either nibbling into it, emerging from the ball, or both. Many researchers believe the sculptures were created as a motif to symbolize the world being consumed by misery. They became prominent fixtures during the Middle Ages when cities lacked sanitation and were often infested with rats.
Nearby
Sites
| Name | Since | Distance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit of Roquepertuse’s gaulish city de en fr it | 60.7km | site_izi | |||
| Flâneries in Velaux en es fr it ko pt | 61.6km | site_izi | |||
| Nimes and surroundings with Tim Richards en | 2013 | 60.7km | site_izi | ||
| Trip over Arles area with Tim Richards. Travelbook en | 2013 | 45.9km | site_izi | ||
| Maison Prévôt | 2019 | 24.8km | site_ao | ||
| Charentais Melon | 2019 | 24.8km | site_ao | ||
| Château de Lacoste | 2019 | 30.5km | site_ao | ||
| Maison Carrée Reconstructed Inscription | 2019 | 60.3km | site_ao | ||
| Tour Vigie et Re?servoir | 1966 | 71.6km | site_brutalism | ||
| Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche | 2014 | 62.5km | site_whs | ||
| Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) | 1985 | 42.7km | site_whs | ||
| Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the ‘Triumphal Arch’ of Orange | 1981 | 21.1km | site_whs | ||
| Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments | 1981 | 53.6km | site_whs | ||
| Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge | 1995 | 22.4km | site_whs |
About the source: Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura aims 'to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share'. You can contribute to their collection on their website.