Eugène Viollet-le-Duc

He transformed the way medieval architecture was perceived: the French architect and theorist became renowned for his bold restorations of monuments, from Paris’s Notre-Dame to the fortifications of Carcassonne. As a pioneer of modern heritage conservation and an influential interpreter of Gothic architecture, he influenced generations of builders. He combined historical erudition with creative invention, so his interventions continue to inspire admiration and spark fierce debate.