The second was put into place by the French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in 1859, and destroyed in a major fire on 15 April 2019.

[2] In March 1606, the large cross at the top of the spire and the relics that were inside it fell due to wind and decay.

[3] The cathedral remained without a spire for several decades until a restoration effort was begun by Jean-Baptiste Antoine Lassus.

In front of each group was another statue of a sign of the Tetramorph symbolizing the Four Evangelists: the bull for St. Luke, the lion for St. Mark, the eagle for St. John and the angel for St. Matthew.

[8] At the base of the central support beam of the spire, an iron plaque dedicated to the achievement of the workers was inscribed with the image of a compass (drawing tool) and a try square.

These were the symbols of the mason's guild and a subtle reference to God's role as Great Architect of the Universe in Catholic tradition.

The sixteen statues were removed with an 80-metre (260 ft) tall crane and transported in pairs to a workshop to be restored.

The heat, estimated to be more than 800 °C (1,470 °F) made the lead coating melt into the wood of the spire, which did not prevent it from burning.

[15] The architect Jean Nouvel called for the faithful reconstruction of the original spire, saying that "it was an integral part of the Cathedral".

Foster and Partners of London proposed a new roof and spire made of stainless steel, glass, and crystal, while the French architecture firm Godart + Roussel Architectes of Dijon proposed a structure made of glass panels and copper tiles.

[19] In doing so the authenticity associated with the destroyed construction may be restored, but it conversely undermined Viollet-le-Duc's originally more creative approach.