Notre Dame's New Spire - Feb 2024
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.พ. 2024
- Notre Dame's spire is up and visible from afar! I thought I'd go check out the progress from the outside and see what you might if you decide to visit it sometime soon. Get access to my guide to Paris at parisinmypocket.com/ and help me make better videos at / jayswanson 🥳
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My name is Jay Swanson - I'm an American writer living in Paris on an artist visa. Paris (yes the one in France) has been my home for years now and I have every intention of staying here for as long as they'll have me. I write science-fiction and fantasy, vlogged daily for 3+ years, and love pizza a little too much. Now I make videos about visiting Paris, traveling in Europe, and try to share what I've learned along the way. I hope you enjoyed what you found.
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My parents & I visited Notre Dame in 1960 (I was 10). It was,simply,magnificent,even to a child. When the tv coverage showed it burning I cried. I don't know why...,.. I just cried. Now,in late Feb '24 I'm a couple of days from my 74 birthday & Notre Dame is almost back. To live long enough to know that a small part of the worlds history has been preserved after a near-fatal fire is just fabulous.I won't physically see the final result but to know Notre Dame is still there is enough.
I'm glad we can share it with you from here!
Not my favorite cathedral in France. But hey, it’s in the heart of Paris
Never say never 🤷🏼♀️, maybe you will see it. I saw it in 1983 and I cried too seeing it burn. I hope to revisit soon.🤞🏻
My trick to visit Notre Dame is to be there around 4:45 - 5:00 am and take wonderful photographs with nobody around. By 5:30 the first buses full with tourists start to arrive. Same for going inside. Get the first early morning entrance. My last time inside was on Easter back around 7 years ago and I got there at 6:00 am to experience the mass in French. It was beyond description. As you say, the energy of it is hard to put in words,
So good to see Notre Dame coming back to life. I watched a BBC documentary recently about the restoration and the work going on is just phenomenal. I also watched a French documentary (TF1 I think) about the people involved in fighting the fire and rescuing the treasures from the church which was superb. It’s going to be amazing when it’s fully reopened.
I need to go watch some of the recent ones
I attended Palm Sunday at Notre Dame de Paris in 1998. It was an epiphany. It will always be indelibly engraved in my mind and heart. I'm looking forward to revisiting it next year.
My girlfriend and I were so lucky to have been there on Feb 13th to see the new spire go up. Weldone to France and Paris. Looking forward to it opening up again to see inside.
I was there in Oct and I watched as the scaffolding was being put up for the Spire. Amazing how fast they are moving along with the restoration. Cant wait to be able to go back inside again!!
The first (and last) time I visited Paris was the day of the fire. I'm finally returning and taking my daughters next month and can't wait to see Notre Dame in this semi-repaired state.
My first & last time was the week before the fire. I feel EXTREMELY lucky to have squeezed in 15 minutes before closing time to walk around inside. It was such a bucket list moment for me
Glad you made it in before!
When the fire happened, I was at work and a co-worker made it a point to tell me that Notre Dame was burning with a malicious glee, actually smiling. Needless to say, I never really liked that guy afterwards. I had been to Paris the year or so before and I was shocked to see the video online. He is a weird little man. I am glad to see that they are making great progress with the restoration. Thanks for posting.
Weird guy...
Happy to share better news 🥂
If you have a copy of Victor Hugo's "Nôtre-Dame de Paris" handy and you haven't read it in a while, turn to "Livre Troisième" and read Hugo's description of Nôtre-Dame as it was buffeted by time and fashion, along with the following chapter, "Paris: À Vol de Oiseau." It really resonates with this video.
Thank you so much for this update. I remember watching your live stream. I sat there with tears falling and so many memories. My brother and sister (and nieces) were flying back to SEA from Paris as it burned. It was a total shock for them to hear the news when they landed, having just been the week before. I really hope that we can go to Paris in the next year or two and see Notre Dame in all her glory, once again!! Our son has been mentioning how he thinks he's ready to visit Paris. GOALS!
Jay just casually walking with the man who walked between him and the camera 😂 all the while still talking to the camera. My social anxiety could never but I appreciate Jay for it!
I was working in a basement office in the 8th when it caught fire, knew nothing about it till family started calling me wondering if i was nearby. Good to see much progress.
It's great to see how far they've come
I enjoyed your tour. And your Boston is adorable!
Thanks! He's the best
Thank you for walking us around the cathedral, I’ve been very curious about the restoration progress. I was there w/my folks in the mid 1970s & we walked up the stairs into one of the belfries & Dad took my picture w/a gargoyle, lol. I remember being awed at how many people had climbed the steps before me to wear them down to such a degree. I could just feel the weight of history around me in that place. Amazing & one of my cherished memories.
I’m not a member or likely to become one, but as a random stranger on the internet, I’d like to say I like the idea of you having polls as to where in the city you’ll take us next, even if I can’t vote in them, lol. Give Cooper an extra skritch behind his ears from me in Maine!
I was in Paris one month before fire. I was in Lahaina, Maui one month before fire. We’ve been asked to stay home 😮
😆
Your livestream was how I found out about the fire - as it happened. A sad but memorable day. Thanks for the update.
it's been wild to see her reconstruction!
It’s great to see 5he progress in the renovations. My sisters and I were in Paris in Jan/feb 2020, just before COVID lockdowns. One day we hope we can come back and revisit Paris x
Really good to see Notre dame making progress - next time i ought to go inside ✨☺️
Definitely!
I remember watching your live stream when I was living in Murmansk, Russia. And you are right, it had emotion in it, something that the news doesn't have. I've watched it a few times, actually.
It was a really sad day
Hey Jay, it was nice bumping into you sunday evening !
It's is very cool to walk around it at dusk or night. The upper levels are lit from the inside. Something I had never seen before.
Thankyou for the update!! I’m amazed how clean the front facade looks. They’re working very hard!❤
They really are
When I lived in Paris in '82, I discovered that the cathedral was open during the organist's practice time. Oh, mon dieu! That was an epic hour.
That's a good discovery to make
Thank you Jay for showing us the update of Notre Dame, you make the information so interesting and your pictures are great! Keep up the good work and tell you 4 legged pal good job!
Thanks!
Great video! Please keep them coming. I’ve been to Paris once and plan on returning. It’s awesome that you get to live there.
I am from the USA and I cried watching it burn. I visited Paris for the first time a year after. I was devastated by the destruction but can't wait to actually go inside 🥰 I'm almost 60 I'm hoping to go once she is fully restored for my third and probably final trip to my absolute favorite city in the world ❤ thank you Jay for sharing !!!!!! And Cooper is so sweet 🥹
From what I have seen, the cathedral will be even more magnificent than it was before. The team of workers really took the time to clean the whole building, every statues, every wall, everything. Its stained glasses (vitraux) will look even better. As if it took a catastrophe to give back its majesty in the skyline of Paris. (Sorry for my English, i am French!!).
They’re doing a wonderful job of taking care of Notre Dame Dame. Even though it’s still undergoing renovation we can already see good progress. However, I have feeling the spire might ne looking thinner than the previous. I might be wrong
Known this landmark for over the lasr 25 years. I was born in Paris during Chirac mandate
@@TheSomsom3no need to apologize!! Your English was perfect!!! I love the French people so much!! When I told people I was going they told me the French people would be rude 😣 I learned a few French phrases and tried my best to say hello and be kind and courteous and I met nothing but kind heartfelt people!!!! One young gentleman actually went out of his way to take me to the correct area of the Metro!!!! 🥰
thank you for your response!!! I love your city so much and have visited in some of the least favorable months and when covid tests were mandatory!! (The months were January which was freezing and August which was so hot!!) and I absolutely adored every single second!!!! The history and beauty of your city is amazing 🥰
@@susanobrien9917 Speaking French language is just twice harder than speaking English. Just as matter of enbracement
Just learn the basics and you'll be good to go. You'd get the hang of this
Speaking of French History... It's a bit bismerched and somehow twisted.
Did you know Motherland France used to be a Monarchy Regim for a very long time. Like the British Counterpart
Jay recommended this before, and it's very cool. The VR exhibit Etternelle Notre Dame, is right in front of the church, in the underground. You experience the church in every stage of its life. Highly recommend it.
Thank you. Was there in March and saw that but didn’t know what it was about. Will put it on my list for next visit.
super worth it. Enjoy,@@Specialk6894!
I haven't done that one but the one I did do was amazing. If they're the same experience, highly recommended
Thank you so much for the recommendation, @@JaySwanson I teach UX at Uni, and was intrigued by this, ready to go all the way to La Defense to experience it. This location couldn't be better...right next to the church itself! Big fan of yours, buddy. Wishing you all the best in your journey. ¡Saludos desde México/Chicago!
Jay! This was terrific! I LOVE Notre Dame! It’s one of my favorite places to pray. I have said Mass twice in the Lady Chapel, and once in the apsidal chapel of St. Denis. I look forward to the day when I can return to do it again. I also would love to cuddle with Cooper. What a cute pup! Thanks for this posting. I am subscribing right now to your site. Paris and Barcelona are my favorite cities in Europe.
Thanks for subscribing! Maybe one day they'll invite Cooper to be a special guest 🐶🥰
I just hope the Hunchback and Esmeralda are doing ok.
Thanks for the update. Replacing the spire with the design of the former was a no brainer. Some incompetent architects came up with ridiculous out of scale/character designs purely of course for their own over inflated egos.
I ugy cried watching the fire. So privileged to visit next year.
prep yourself for ugly crying at seeing her made whole again too XD it's very emotional!
We were lucky to be there in 2018 before the fire. We will definitely get back there when Notre Dame is complete. Thanks for the great video!
If your craving some cathedral action you should take a day trip to Orléans and visit Cathédrale Sainte-Croix 🙌
Orléans is high on my list!
I knew they'd restore it! Long live Notre Dame!
A great feel good story . See you in church on the weekend.
I'm french, born and raised in Paris. And yes, it's gonna be very crowded around the area of Notre Dame. I made a run a month ago. There's still a lot of work to be done but you're realized that only if you walk by the cathedral.
They need to publish a book(coffee table) about the restoration work done. I would purchase a few copies. Take the proceeds and create a fund for the upkeep of the church.
There's so much beautiful photography that's been taken, it seems like it would be easy to make
Attending a Mass at Notre Dame is on my bucket-list.
I just today found out the spire was back up. It feels like the Paris skyline is whole again. As far as I care, they can take their time finishing the rest.
They might 😆
I was in the cathedral several times before the fire. I cried watching it burn. Such history. Thank you for sharing the progress. I was there last April, and so much more has happened since then.
It's good to see the progress they've made on the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. Although I've been to Paris several times since 2010, I only visited Notre Dame once and that was just before Christmas in 2015. It was a spur of the moment decision since I was originally in the area to check out a Christmas Market near Shakespear & Company. It was basically a case of "life is short, so let's do this", and I'm glad I did.
I'm so glad you made the choice to go in, Donna!
Oooh merci Jay et Cooper mes sentiments aussi !!!! Can't wait to be back in Paris and head back to dear old Notre Dame !
Looking forward to her return!
Thanks for sharing this update, Jay. I found your channel from the livestream of the fire that you mentioned. Not the happiest way to discover your work, but your 20 in 20 was extremely helpful for my honeymoon a few months later and I’ve been a subscriber ever since
. Can’t believe it’s been almost five years. Cheers!
Thanks for this! So glad to have you along for the ride!
I’m really looking forward to seeing Notre Dame after they finish the restoration, because they’ve taken this opportunity to restore everything from floor to ceiling. It will be as good as or better than it was after Viollet-le-Duc finished his restoration in 1864. It’s a once in a 120 year opportunity.
Maybe even longer!
Would love to see you get 100,000 subscribers. ❤👍
Me too 😆 I need to say so publicly for once
Even Cooper is buzzing for it to open.
National Geographic has done a couple of great articles about the restoration and Frontline on PBS has also had a couple of great documentaries. What has gone into that restoration is incredible and it illustrates the love and respect that so many have for that church. I am glad I saw it several times prior for the fire but the "Lady" had been standing for hundreds of years and this is her next chapter. May she remain for hundreds of years more.
A couple of years ago there was a fascinating augmented reality exhibit on the history and restoration of Notre Dame at the National Building Museum here in DC. I wonder if that exhibit or something like it will be on view in Paris at some point. It included virtual reality-style immersive views where you could look around the ND precincts and see the adjoining streets in various periods and witness historic events from several centuries. That, and a friend's son was involved in the international timberframing project to study how to rebuild the forêt. In sum: lots of cool museum and experimental archaeology projects have sprung from the need to rebuild, but I can't wait to get back to see it in person!
wow that's so cool!
To the firemen, financiers, artisans and engineers who saved and rebuilt her, thank you!
🙏🙏
Great update, Jay
Thanks!
So good! Great video, Jay. I'm excited that Notre Dame is being restored.
Me too!
I stood at this spot in mid September 2023 last year 5:55. Saw all the constructions building materials round the Dame. Got sadden and depressed a bit. I'd remembered in the past years, I would practice photography and took countless amazing night photos and selfies around 2-4am without the tourists (and some really drunk Parisians coming from St Michael bars). Or having dinner, sat at the bank of Sein at night right behind the Notre Dame. I felt a sense "of my own" closure as soon as your video shown the gold cock towering above the Dame. Thank you for the latest update. Please continue to upload. Merci beaucoup~!
I saw the news of the fire here in Australia. I felt very emotional ( even though I’m not French or religious), especially when the spire collapsed. I hope to be back in Paris next year & see the Cathedral for myself.
It was shocking! I'll never forget that day.
Such an interesting partial rebuild of Notre Dame - I've never noticed all those cool details. It's nice that it's slowly opening up again!
wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video. We're going to Paris to tour Notre Dame after it is rebuilt.
Thank you so much for this update! I remember ND before the bleachers. Watching the fire live is one of the most devastating moments of my life even though I’m now living in NYC and BTW I know plenty of people who live in the city who have never visited MOMA or the Statue of Liberty or even the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Crazy. I’m definitely going to search for the displays around ND online!
I think it's a good reminder to get those bucket lists full at home before something like this happens 🥂
Copper makes every picture special!
Thanks for sharing this update on Notre Dame! Is there a website that captures all the infographics surrounding the reconstruction of the cathedral? Thanks!
I recently saw a FB film of the return of the topper (?) for lack of the proper term (I am sure there is one) as the finishing g touch on the spire. Appropriately, it is a phoenix which is beautifully crafted. Plus all of the people who worked on it were pictured around it! I am in awe of those artisans from around the world who contributed to returning Norte Dame to her former glory as accurately as they have done! Wonderful. In this world we currently live in, it is sometimes easy to forget how wonderful human beings can be. And Jay … sometimes things are touristy because they deserve to be experienced by people who want to … well, experience them.
Notre Dame is well worth a visit or twelve
Thanks for the update. I'm planning to visit in December for Christmas. I was there years ago and it saddened me when I heard about the fire.
Jay. Good to see you back doing Paris stuff. Love you man, but good to see you back on piste. You are Paris and Paris is Jay Swanson. This is your core strength. May you go form strength to strength! 🖖
Glad you enjoy Paris! It'll naturally play a role in my vlogs, since i do live here ;)
I was just there and was almost in tears. I cried in my office and watched it burn on that day. It was awful😢. I can't wait to come back in 2025 to see it in all its glory ♥
Can't wait to go there snd read everything. I'll be there on the 4th. I hope the rain let's up a bit.
Fingers crossed for you! (and me)
Good job, dude! Checking the weather app!
haha A+ for me!
The host mentioned the smell. It will for sure smell different. Wonder if they add something so it smells similar/same as before the fire.
That's going to be weird
Aaaand a remix of one of my favorite Charles Trenet songs! Win-win!
How can I find this song version? Love it!
Thank you for the update on ND. Could you go through the hall of comparative anatomy at the Jardin des plantes in a future video?
Bonjour , Was a pleasant stroll although kinda grey. Glad you are being the swing of things. Soon as I see two warm spring days I am going to swing by for a few daps. Until then 🌴🌴Aloha
Four of my six trios to Paris were before the fire. Two of those trios I climbed the steps and got photos of the spire from the top. I will be curious to see the finished product and how it compares.
Here's a challenge for you. Try and visit the second basement in le Caveau des Oubliettes, 52 rue Galande, Paris, FR 75005, just around the corner past l’église Saint-Julien le Pauvre. As a teenager on my first trip to Paris, I had the rare privilege of touring the ancient prison cells in 1975. Management now says it's prohibited to enter the second basement. Please, please, PLEASE convince them to let you visit and record the sub-basement and its history. Your subscribers will love it.
PS
There were still scattered skeletal remains down there in 1975.
Was there in Octobre, the story boards were very interesting. Not quite like seeing the real thing but after seeing St Germain, Sulpice, Chapelle, one could get the drift. Walked over that bridge on way from the Marais to the hotel i was staying at in the 6th. Your video brings back memories
Funny, I was just in Paris yesterday and went to check out the construction on Notre Dame and was wondering if I would spot you & Cooper. Lo and behold this video comes out the next day. 😂
BTW… it’s school holidays for 2/3rds of France so that may be the reason why you saw slightly more tourists around.
I agree with you, Jay. Notre Dame is an amazing spot no matter if you're drawn there for religious reasons or historical reasons, it's a great place. I love the stained glass windows. When I was last there, (so long ago that it feels like a dream)...my mom and I climbed up a tower with a guide and were shown the rafters, the organ's pipes, magnificent views and so much more...can one still do that? And to see the gargoyles during the climb was amazing to me. The views were spectacular! Then to scramble down the long staircase to enjoy a hazelnut crepe from a creperie. Such wonderful memories.
What beautiful memories! I'm not sure what will be available after reconstruction, but the towers remained in tact so hopefully it will be possible to ascend again one day!
Jay, I have a photo I took in October 2019 where you can see clear through from one side of the transept to the other because all of the windows were removed. My guide took me there and said this is a view that has not been seen in hundreds of years. ( I’d post it for you, but there is no way to post photos in the comments.)
amazing!!
J'étais à Paris en octobre 2019. Notre-Dame n'était alors plus qu'une ruine. Mon coeur était bouleversé. Je l'ai revue, après la pandémie, en mai 2022. Je n'en croyais pas mes yeux. Elle était enfermée dans un corset de métal (les échaffaudages métaliques), comme en convalescence. Puis, en octobre 2022, en mai 2023 et en octobre 2023. Quand je l'ai revue l'automne dernier, j'avais les larmes aux yeux : on commençait à rétablir la charpente. Que de travail depuis l'incendie! J'y retourne en mai 2024. J'ai bien hâte de la voir peu à peu reprendre sa grâce éternelle et son symbolisme au coeur de Paris. Les artisans ont fait un travail magistral. Bravo et merci du fond du coeur!!!
hear hear!
watched the (gold) ornament getting lifted up - (on the news) all the way here in Mesa Arizona!
2:30 I missed a Bus Tour in London once and good news for me, it was raining heavily. In summer.
Great video, Merci. "How often do you get to talk about flying buttresses?" Love it. (And friendly comment: it's a "cathedral" not a "church")
It's both 😜 I'm pretty sure I used both terms but even if I didn't: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral
I’m here right now and walked exactly where you were today (Tuesday). Lots of observations I made this time to Paris. Maybe because I’m a solo female traveler this time. 1. This city feels safer than my home town of Seattle. 2. The Palais Garnier audio tour was amazing. The Louvre needs to up their game with their audio tours, terrible. 3. I love the life of the city. As soon as you figure out the motion and go with it, it’s like riding a seamless wave that everyone is on. Another great trip to Paris!!
These are great observations and spot on! So glad you enjoyed your trip.
BOOP! I’m looking forward to being able to see the flying buttresses once the scaffolding comes down.
me too!
Nice Trenet soundtrack. Can’t remember the title. Provide please! Love the vid. ❤️
Bless Assassins Creed. Also, I’m always impressed by the complexity of scaffolding
You just inspired a new game, for me at least. Find the differences between the two sides. I just noticed another while looking at my architecture history book. The ground floor's two side arches don't match; the one on the left has a triangular shape over the arch while the other one just has the arch. and now I can't unsee these. :)
love this!!
Oh goodness I was there Sunday to see the spire surprised I didn’t spot you and Cooper! Would it be wrong to say Notre Dame is going to have benefitted from the fire tragedy? It seems all these renovations and restorations are going to ensure an even longer life! It is magical.
Sorry to have missed you! I suppose anything built back up after a fire probably comes back stronger? For Notre Dame, it's not the first time, she's had a few restorations in history, which is another reason why this is so interesting!
The very first video of yours that I watched was the day after it burned. I was super moved by it.
It is a shame this bad weather, cold and rainy. 😢😞☹
But i didn’t see Notre Dame since a long time.😀although I live in the same region as Paris.😏
Have you explored other churches in Paris? I think it would be interesting to see that.
Lots! Haven't made a dedicated video, but I make a habit of checking them out & often will appear in a vlog or a 20 in 20!
When is the date of completion ?
Hi Jay, saw your video on Notre Dame's renovation evolution. FYI: Notre Dame is not a church, it is a cathedral!
I hope you enjoyed it! Also a cathedral is a type of church ;)
Jay, Is there any chance that the infographics on the barriers are available on the the internet? They look interesting and I'd love to read them. Thanks
Maybe on the official site? But a Google or two should find some interesting bits if they're out there
Wait, no visit to Noir or Le Peloton?? I’m flabbergasted Jay! Lol
Great video today. Notre Dame, in many ways, IS Paris. To me it’s my Eiffel Tower - if you get what I mean.
I’m waiting for the updated Versailles video when you analyze & compete old photos of mirrors to 2024. I’m kidding of course. We all know how much you love Versailles. 😂
Cheers, Jay! ☕️
Was already overcaffeinated by the time I got there 😆😆
@@JaySwanson Jay Swanson over caffeinated? Can it be? I guess one really can live long enough to see it all. 🤣
at 01:21, I see what you did there haha 💧
I love the french music in the bg!! Name??
Music in this is by Dyalla, "Bang"!
I wished they did the roof of Notre Dame in glass with a glass spire that lights up at night as a lot of architects concepts have shown
that would have been really cool to see too
Hopefully a fire protection system to prevent this happening ever again😁
😆 one can hope
On your next coverage, could you show and/or mention the "cleaning" of the outer structure???
Speaking for myself, I think the Before & After photos would be quite interesting. Merci Jay!
That's a contrast that would definitely be interesting. The Louvre cleaning project has been pretty crazy to see for that reason
@@JaySwanson Merci Jay! I was not aware of The Louvre's transformation. I will see if there's any coverages of it.
The blight is in sight (again) .. I think the original design is sufficient and had they left it alone (the spire was the source of the fire) the story of the original forest would have gone on. But seriously, compromising any roof structure for ornamentation is asking for trouble. I'm also against returning lead to the roof system (preferring copper).
Where did you have lunch? I couldn’t catch the name you said.
Think how crowded it'll be when the Olympics are there this summer!
Could be nuts
Couldn't figure out how to insert a pic into a comment, so you'll have to take my word for it that non-traditional gargoyle statues do exist - gargoyle body, boston terrier face. Thanks for sharing another fabulous video!
omg cooper gargoyles?!