The restoration of Notre-Dame by Viollet-le-Duc

The restoration played a crucial role in preserving Notre-Dame. It also reflected Viollet-le-Duc's distinctive approach to restoring medieval monuments. Rather than simply preserving buildings in their existing condition, the architect sometimes sought to recreate what he regarded as their ideal architectural coherence.

Some of his choices, including the reconstruction of the spire and the restoration of numerous sculptural elements, consequently became the subject of debate about how historic monuments should be restored.

Contrary to a common misconception, Viollet-le-Duc was not the first to add a spire to Notre-Dame. A medieval spire, built in the 13th century above the crossing of the transept, had been dismantled at the end of the 18th century because of its deteriorating condition.

In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc designed a new and more ambitious spire. Construction began in 1859, and the spire became one of the most recognisable features of the Paris skyline until it was destroyed in the fire of 15 April 2019. It has since been rebuilt to match Viollet-le-Duc's design as part of the restoration following the fire.

• The major restoration campaign began in 1844 under Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
• After Lassus died in 1857, Viollet-le-Duc continued the project on his own.
• The main restoration campaign was completed around 1864, rather than at Viollet-le-Duc's death in 1879.
• Viollet-le-Duc's spire replaced an earlier medieval spire, which had been dismantled at the end of the 18th century.
• Viollet-le-Duc died in 1879, around fifteen years after the main restoration campaign was completed.