Survey: Most French people do not wish for a change in the appearance of Notre-Dame

Paris – Most French people want the Notre-Dame cathedral to look exactly as it did before the fire in mid-April after its reconstruction. This is indicated by a survey released today by the French agency YouGov. Disputes mainly revolve around what should replace the destroyed spire, which has towered over the nave since the 19th century.

In the survey, 54 percent of respondents expressed the desire for the cathedral to have the same appearance post-reconstruction as it did before the fire. A quarter of respondents believe that architects should be given a free hand in the restoration of the cathedral and should not be constrained by strict rules. A clear opinion on the shape of the reconstruction was not held by 21 percent of French respondents.

The Notre-Dame cathedral caught fire on the evening of April 15. Before firefighters extinguished it the following morning, the fire destroyed the roof, framework, and the 19th-century spire known as the "sanktusník." Investigators consider an electrical short circuit to be the likely cause of the fire.

Shortly after the fire, the French government announced that it wanted an international architectural competition to decide the future appearance of the cathedral. President Emmanuel Macron promised that the restoration of the Gothic monument would be completed within five years. However, many experts warn against such a rapid reconstruction, while others doubt that it is feasible to complete it in five years. Macron also suggested that the restored spire should have a "more contemporary" appearance.