Why only one tower?
A façade that has lost half of its silhouette
The façade of Saint-Denis is still difficult to read today because it is missing a major piece. The north tower once supported a stone spire that dominated the entire plain north of Paris; since 1847, only the stump remains. People arriving by metro see an asymmetrical church and assume it was never finished. The opposite is true: it was finished, then amputated.
What happened in 1845
Successive storms weakened the tower, particularly the one in June 1845. Previous work had not improved the structure. Faced with the risk, it was decided to dismantle the spire and then the tower stone by stone between 1846 and 1847; François Debret oversaw the operation. The stones were preserved, numbered, and stored—and it is this stock, in part, that makes reconstruction possible today.
One hundred and seventy-five years without a spire
The project to rebuild the spire resurfaces regularly, only to be abandoned again. For the inhabitants of Saint-Denis, the image of the basilica is this lopsided façade: it has come to be seen as normal. The current work is changing that before our eyes, at a cathedral’s pace. Details are available on La Fabrique de la Flèche.
What you can see today
The façade can be viewed freely from the square, without a ticket: take three minutes before entering to understand the asymmetry. The spire construction site can be visited separately and is closed on Mondays, while the royal necropolis remains accessible on that day. The portal and the rose window are explained on what to see in the basilica, and the Gothic context on Suger and the Gothic.
Step back to the far end of the square, on the town hall side: this is the only spot from which you can grasp the height the reconstructed spire will have.
Frequently asked questions
Has the basilique ever had two towers?
Yes. The north tower and its spire were dismantled between 1846 and 1847 by François Debret. See the spire reconstruction site.
Why wasn’t it reassembled sooner?
The project was revived and abandoned several times before the current work. See La Fabrique de la Flèche.
Do you need a ticket to see the façade?
No, the forecourt is free, as is the nave. The ticket grants access to the royal necropolis: see the necropolis ticket.