The Spire of Notre-Dame de Paris

The spire of Notre-Dame is the work of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the architect responsible for the cathedral's restoration in the 19th century. Soaring to a height of 96 meters, it was an architectural marvel of its time. The statues of the apostles were spared from the 2019 fire.

La flèche de la cathédrale sous un magnifique ciel bleu

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The first spire was constructed above the transept crossing around 1250. It initially served as a bell tower housing five bells in the 17th century. This original spire was dismantled between 1786 and 1792.

An Ornamental Spire

During the restoration of the cathedral in the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc decided to erect a second spire, purely ornamental without any bell tower function. An octagonal base, supported by the four pillars of the transept, carried the structure, independent of the spire. In 1860, the architect tasked the carpenter Bellu with the work. This new design was very different from the previous one, composed of 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead, and it reached 96 meters from the ground. Unfortunately, the spire was consumed by flames and collapsed during the 2019 fire.

Sculptures Saved from the Flames

The spire was covered with lead and adorned with copper statues representing the twelve apostles and symbols of the four evangelists. Saint Thomas, depicted with the likeness of Viollet-le-Duc, gazed skyward, seemingly contemplating his creation. He held a ruler in his right hand, signing his work. At the base of the pillar, an iron plaque featured Masonic symbols: a crossed square and compass. The rooster at the top of the spire contained three relics: a fragment of the crown of thorns, a relic of Saint Denis, and one of Saint Geneviève.

In 2019, restoration work was underway on the wooden structure. The statues had been taken down for restoration due to copper oxidation that gave them their greenish patina. By sheer luck, these statues were spared from the fire’s destruction.