A quirky relic of medieval Paris still considered one of the most dangerous places to visit in the city is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire.
Hundreds of British tourists are among those on a waiting list to go up the Saint-Jacques Tower – the sole remains of a church that was otherwise demolished during the 1789 Revolution.
Following the blaze that almost destroyed Notre Dame in April, Saint-Jacques has become the tallest bell tower in the city that is open to the public.
This makes it the best vantage point in the heart of the historic capital for a bird’s eye of view national treasures below, but because of the dangers involved only 17 people can go up at a time.
Potential dangers include 300 slippery stone steps, limited handrails, a gloomy and claustrophobic spiral staircase, and a sheer drop of 171ft (52 meters) from a small zinc roof space.
“There are great risks involved, and that’s why every party has to be accompanied by a security manager,” said Laure Benacin, of the Mots et des Arts (Words & Arts) company that now organises visits.
“Despite this, there is huge interest in the tower, with enquiries coming from all over the world, including many from Britain.”
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Ms Benacin said the Flamboyant Gothic tower was now a perfect alternative for those who miss out on ascending the 226ft (69 meter) twin towers of Notre Dame.
These world famous structures, which were completed in the 13thCentury, were open to the public up until the fire that spread along the Cathedral’s roof and spire, causing millions of pounds worth of damage.
Ariel Weil, the Mayor of Paris’s 4tharrondissement, said he was hugely proud to have both buildings in his district, practically facing each other across the River Seine.
During a visit to the Saint-Jacques tower with The Telegraph, Mr Weil said: “A renovation programme for the tower has been a huge success.
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“It is of course not as famous as Notre Dame, but nevertheless a wonderful historic monument.”
The tower, a stop on the traditional pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, was closed to the public for most of its long history.
It was part of the Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie (“of the butchers”) church that was first mentioned by 12th Century chroniclers before being demolished by revolutionaries during the 1790s, but was finally granted a licence for visitors in 2013.
The incredible 360-degree view on top encompasses the Sacré-Cœur at Montmartre, the Pompidou Centre and Hotel de Ville, La Défense business district, and Notre Dame itself. St-Jacques, which is on the Rue de Rivoli, close to the Châtelet theatre, is only open during the Summer months, with this season’s visits closing on November 4.
Children under 10 are not allowed up, nor anybody who suffers from vertigo.
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