Paris is happy with the return of the Notre Dame bird

Today, the new copper faucet was lifted by crane to the top of the tower of the architectural icon Notre Dame, which was destroyed by fire in 2019. The return of the rooster is a milestone in the renovation of the church in the heart of Paris. According to the plan, the work is scheduled to be completed within the next twelve months.

During the fire on April 15, 2019, the old rooster fell through the ceiling with the wooden spike it was attached to. The day after the fire, it was found among the rubble, dented but intact. The original will be displayed in the new Notre Dame Museum.

The new copper weather vane has now been blessed in a ceremony held by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich. Inside are religious relics and a manuscript with a long list of names of workers, donors and patrons. “It’s a phoenix,” said Philippe Villeneuve, the chief historical architect who designed the flame-shaped rooster. He explains that “the flame is carried to the highest point in the cathedral (…) The fire is carried there, but it is the fire of the Resurrection.”

Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen for services and to the public on December 8, 2024.