Saint-Denis Basilica Spire Rebuild Trains 130 Artisans to Restore 15,228 Stones by 2030
To reconstruct the north spire of the Basilique Saint-Denis, which was taken apart in 1846, a total of 15,228 stones, weighing more than 2,500 tonnes, will be re-laid. This five-year project is expected to finish in 2030 and will involve 130 craftsmen employing medieval methods. Project manager Nicolas Matyjasik emphasizes adherence to Viollet-le-Duc's original designs, focusing on manual labor rather than machinery. Sylvéric Laumond, president of H. Chevalier, plans to establish a chantier-école for apprentices, collaborating with local organizations to tackle high unemployment. The initiative promotes gender equality, with stone masons and cutters alternating roles. Public access to La Fabrique de la flèche will showcase the blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, with the spire set to rise to 90 metres.
Key facts
- 15,228 stones, more than 2,500 tonnes — about five Airbus A380s — are to be re-laid for the north spire of the Basilique Saint-Denis
- The spire was dismantled stone by stone in 1846; the caption states Viollet-le-Duc dismantled it in 1847 and that the 90-metre structure will be rebuilt identically
- The five-year project is due for completion in 2030 and involves around 130 artisans
- Nicolas Matyjasik directs the association Suivez la flèche and serves as project manager; work restarted from Viollet-le-Duc's original plans
- About ten apprentices will be trained over five years at H. Chevalier, one of two stone-cutting firms, whose president-director general is Sylvéric Laumond
- Parity on the site is nearing 50-50, according to stone cutter Albanne, a figure still rare in the sector
- La Fabrique de la flèche lets the public watch cutters and blacksmiths at work day by day, with stones digitized and partly cut on site
- Taillandiers Mathieu and Bakary forge and sharpen tools daily; Bakary comes from a family of blacksmiths
Entities
Artists
- Nicolas Matyjasik
- Sylvéric Laumond
- Viollet-le-Duc
- Albanne
- Frédéric
- Mathieu
- Bakary
Institutions
- Basilique Saint-Denis
- Suivez la flèche
- H. Chevalier
- La Fabrique de la flèche
- Institut pour les savoir-faire français
- Connaissance des Arts
- Atelier Slash
Locations
- Saint-Denis
- France
- Europe