Reconstruction of the tower and north spire of Saint-Denis cathedral basilica

The cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis, a landmark of Gothic architecture and the burial place of the kings and queens of France, has rarely been so much in the spotlight! Its recently restored façade has been given a new lease of life, as have the stained glass windows in its huge south rose and in the chevet. In 2025, a major reconstruction project will begin, with the aim of reassembling the tower and the north spire of the façade, which was dismantled in 1846.

On 14 March 2025, the foundation stone for the reconstruction was laid, marking the start of a project that is due to last 5 years. The event was attended by the French Minister of Culture, the President of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the Bishop of Saint-Denis, the Mayor of Saint-Denis, and Stéphane Bern, the project's official patron.

For more than 170 years, the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis has been deprived of its north tower and spire. The spire, which reached a height of 90 metres, was struck by lightning in 1837, weakening its structure. After repairs were carried out by the architect François Debret, further storms between 1842 and 1845 definitively endangered the spire, leading to its demolition in 1846. Dismantling was completed in 1847 under the direction of the architect Viollet-le-Duc.

As soon as the spire was demolished, calls for its reconstruction began to emerge, sparking off much debate. It wasn't until 2015 that the project took a major turn with the visit of French President François Hollande. In 2016, the association Suivez la flèche (Follow the Spire ) was created, with the aim of promoting and leading the reconstruction work on the north spire of the basilica.

In 2018, a framework agreement was signed between the Suivez la flèche association, the French Ministry of Culture, the Centre des monuments nationaux and the Bishop's Palace. The association Suivez la flèche was officially designated as the project manager for the reconstruction.

The reconstruction is being financed by the Fonds de solidarité interdépartemental d'Île-de-France (FS2I), the Île-de-France Region, the Metropole du Grand Paris and private investors. The Fondation du Patrimoine, which is also supporting the project, has launched a fundraising campaign based on sponsoring the stones of the future spire. By making a donation, you become a member of the spire community, sponsor a stone and own an exclusive digital twin! To find out more

This reconstruction offers a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the historical and artistic wealth of the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis, which houses the tombs of the kings and queens of France. The challenge is twofold: firstly, to restore the architectural integrity of the monument, which makes it one of the major masterpieces of Gothic architecture. On the other hand, it is to encourage the transmission of the builders' skills, while providing a better understanding of the challenges faced by architects.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at an extraordinary building site from next September!

As part of this dual approach, from September 2025, visitors will be able to use a single ticket to visit the royal necropolis and the La Fabrique de la flèche worksite at the foot of the monument. From next September, this new site, which is currently under construction, will offer visitors an immersive and innovative experience at the heart of the history and expertise that brought the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis to life. Conceived as a journey through time, this tour offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to discover what went on behind the scenes at the builders' site through interactive displays, projections and mediation areas led by craftsmen after visiting the cathedral basilica and its crypt.

This new tour route will enhance the visitor experience and reinforce the place of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis as a place of memory and living history!