Notre Dame Cathedral unveils new spire crowned by golden rooster

Notre Dame marks major moment in reconstruction journey with new spire reveal

Nearly five years after the devastating fire that ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Parisian landmark has hit an important milestone with the unveiling of its reconstructed spire. On March 7th, the spire, measuring 96 meters tall and crafted entirely from oak wood, was revealed to top the cathedral once again.

Crafted as an elegant masterpiece of carpentry, the spire showcases the skillful woodworking involved in rebuilding this iconic part of Notre Dame's medieval design. Its open framework structure allows it to shine through, protecting the oak structure within. Completing the spire is a glistening golden rooster weathervane and cross, restoring familiar sights to the Paris skyline.

In a social media post announcing the reveal, the official restoration account hailed the spire's reemergence as an important moment. The unveiling marks significant progress in the multi-year reconstruction project aiming to restore Notre Dame Cathedral to its former glory after the 2019 fire devastated its structure. Though work continues, the new spire signals Notre Dame has reached new heights in overcoming the damage of that day, with its symbolic place at the top of the cathedral secured once more.

The newly unveiled spire is a faithful reconstruction of the iconic structure designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. Viollet-le-Duc's ornate spire had replaced the cathedral's original 13th century spire, which was dismantled in the late 18th century due to deterioration.

Last December, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed the first sections of the reconstructed spire, honouring Viollet-le-Duc's 19th century design. In the months since, engineers have worked diligently to fully remove the scaffolding that surrounded the towering oak frame during reconstruction. Their efforts culminated in the spire's unveiling earlier this week, restoring this beloved architectural feature to its rightful place atop Notre Dame Cathedral after almost five years of renewal following the tragic fire.

The new spire stays true to history while also symbolizing rebirth. Its completion represents significant progress in faithfully restoring the medieval masterpiece to its former grandeur through exhaustive restoration work.
Crowning the newly reconstructed spire is a replica of the original cross and a gold-plated rooster sculpture designed by chief architect Philippe Villeneuve. Paying homage to history, Villeneuve's rooster design recreates the weathervane that sat atop Viollet-le-Duc's spire in the 19th century.

Last December, the Archbishop of Paris presided over a blessing ceremony for the rooster statue before it was lifted into its lofty perch by crane. According to reports, a collection of holy relics was placed inside the hollow rooster sculpture, including fragments believed linked to Jesus Christ's crown of thorns. The inclusion of sacred relics imbued the iconic sculpture with spiritual meaning as it resumed its centuries-long role signaling Paris from atop the famed cathedral. Under Villeneuve's guidance, each detail of the renovations has aimed to restore Notre Dame and its features to their full splendor following the catastrophic fire almost five years ago.

Reconstruction efforts at Notre Dame Cathedral have made substantial progress, with an anticipated partial reopening set for December 2024. However, considerable work remains to fully restore Notre Dame to its former glory. A range of state-of-the-art fire protection systems have been installed as a priority to safeguard the cathedral going forward. The complete restoration project encompasses revitalizing the cathedral interior and surrounding precincts, with an estimated full renovation completion by 2028.

Over the next few years, artisans and engineers will continue meticulous restoration of the majestic Gothic structure that has stood in the heart of Paris for centuries. Steady progress is being made to reopen Notre Dame and welcome the world back to admire its Gothic masterwork thanks to the dedication of crews working to realize their vision of restoring this landmark to its maximum splendor.

In the aftermath of the devastating 2019 fire, Macron ambitiously pledged to reconstruct the Gothic church within five years. But last August, the reconstruction efforts suffered a loss with Georgelin's tragic death. While his timeline was not fully realized, the project has nonetheless made tremendous headway under tight deadlines. The confirmed partial reopening for December 2024 marks collective strides in bringing Notre Dame back to vibrant life for the world to witness once more.