Notre Dame’s Restored Spire Revealed to the Public after Devastating Fire
In a momentous occasion for the medieval Parisian cathedral, Notre Dame, the scaffolding surrounding its newly restored spire has been taken down, unveiling the magnificent structure to the public. This comes after the cathedral was ravaged by a devastating fire in April 2019, which also caused damage to its roof and vaults. The soaring spire, adorned with a cross and golden rooster, now stands tall amidst a dense grid of support beams.
The reopening of Notre Dame is scheduled for December 8, marking the first time visitors will be able to enter the cathedral since the tragic blaze. The cause of the fire remains unclear, although initial investigations in 2019 suggested that it may have been sparked by an electrical malfunction during a renovation.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his joy at the restoration progress, taking to social media to write, “She appears once again in the sky! French pride.” This sentiment is shared by many who have eagerly awaited the unveiling of Notre Dame’s restored spire.
Jennifer Feltman, a medieval art historian at the University of Alabama and part of the official team studying Notre Dame’s restoration, described the moment as “just remarkable.” She commended the dedication required to reach this point in the reconstruction process.
The restoration of Notre Dame’s spire also marks the end of a heated debate surrounding how best to restore the iconic structure. Some argued that recreating the 19th-century spire was essential, while others believed that mimicking history risked neglecting contemporary design sensibilities.
The new construction largely replicates the original spire. The Friends of Notre Dame, a nonprofit organization raising funds for the cathedral’s reconstruction, describes the restored spire as “identical in appearance, materials (oak framework covered with lead), and construction methods used” to its predecessor. The only exception is the golden rooster, which has been reimagined as a phoenix with flaming wings by Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the reconstruction. The rooster holds great significance as a symbol of France.
Notre Dame’s spire has undergone several transformations throughout its approximately 800-year history. The original spire, built around 1250, served as a bell tower in the 1600s but was eventually removed in the late 1700s due to the risk of collapse. For many years, the cathedral remained without a spire until architect Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc designed a new one in the mid-19th century. This spire stood until the fire.
Meredith Cohen, a medieval architecture historian at UCLA, praised those involved in the restoration for their transparency and documentation. However, she expressed some ambivalence about the reveal. Cohen explained that as Notre Dame was constructed over several centuries, builders added elements and made repairs according to the architectural styles of their time. Paradoxically, she suggests that repairing the cathedral in a contemporary style would align with this medieval approach.
Cohen acknowledges that the public may have desired the return of the beloved 19th-century spire. However, she emphasizes that what has been reconstructed is merely a spire built in the 21st century to resemble its 19th-century counterpart. This approach, she argues, plays with history and lacks visual transparency.
Many proposals were put forth for modern interpretations of the spire, including one suggested by President Macron himself. However, Philippe Villeneuve, the lead architect of the reconstruction, firmly rejected these ideas and stated that he would rather resign than allow a modern spire to be built.
Feltman, the Alabama professor, highlights how modern technology enabled architects to recreate the spire with such precision. Digital scans provided incredibly accurate documentation, allowing for an authentic restoration. She also notes that even in recreating the 19th century, the architects are implicitly creating something contemporary.
The process of witnessing Notre Dame come together has a certain medieval drama to it, according to Feltman. She believes that this experience offers a glimpse into a past that few people have the opportunity to witness firsthand. For many, the reveal of Notre Dame’s restored spire this week was undoubtedly a high point in the cathedral’s ongoing restoration journey.