Paris's Saint-Sulpice church has an unfinished south tower, a relic of the French Revolution, while the north tower was completed and recently restored.
North tower height
The north tower of the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris stands at 73 meters, making it taller than the south tower, which measures 68 meters.Design by multiple architects
The church's façade was designed by six different architects over a period of more than 140 years, from 1646 to 1789.Unused scaffolding
Scaffolding was erected around the south tower in 1789 but was never used and was later dismantled in 1792, leaving visible holes in the structure.Unfinished decoration
The south tower was never decorated as originally planned, and its unfinished state is attributed to the disruptions caused by the French Revolution, according to the Fondation Avenir du Patrimoine à Paris.Completion attempt
In 1838, the Council of Civil Buildings decided to complete the south tower based on Servandoni's plans, but the intended decorative elements were never added.Restoration of north tower
The north tower, which was completed in the late 18th century, underwent a major restoration from 2006 to 2011, costing approximately 30 million euros.Incident in 2023
On July 30, 2023, a stone fell from the church's façade and injured a tourist, prompting the installation of nets to prevent further incidents.Unfinished historical enigma
The south tower remains in its unfinished state, a lasting reminder of the historical disruptions caused by the French Revolution and an enduring mystery for historians.
