I took this picture of the west front of Notre-Dame at about 10:30 p.m.
I had taken this one from upriver at about 5:00 p.m.
And finally, here's one that I took just a minute before the one above. Can you believe that people are sitting out in the sun down by the Seine on February 15? That south-facing wall must have been pretty warm.
Ahhhh, the spire! Gone, gone, gone :(
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful they are saving so much else of the building.
Must have been a pretty nice day, that day in February (although one person looks like she may be wrapped in a blanket?).
Parisians had probably lived indoors for months, many in tiny apartments, because of rain and damp and drear. They were eager to get out and enjoy sunshine, I imagine, even if it was still chilly out there.
DeleteI wonder if the spire will be rebuild. It was not authentic after all; it was some kind of 19th century recreation by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, better known for saving the Cité de Carcassonne and rebuilding the château de Pierrefonds, almost completely new.
ReplyDeleteShame on me! …rebuilt… sorry.
DeleteI didn't know that the spire was added, but now I do!
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I noticed the great picture of the original roof. I hope the rebuild the spire. Though not original, it had a great look and went well with the building.
ReplyDeleteYes, the spire will be rebuilt!
ReplyDeleteI hope it doesn't turn out to be a mistake to rebuild the roof beams and the spire in wood rather than metal or concrete.
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