Eugène Emmanuel Viollet le Duc
(January 27, 1814 – September 17, 1879) France
Architect, writer
Born in Paris, he studied architecture in Paris, traveled in Italy, and painstakingly studied medieval monuments throughout France. After restoring various churches and town halls in small towns of S France, he was employed, with J.-B. A. Lassus, to restore the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.
He is noted as the leader of the Gothic revival in France, and for restoration of medieval buildings, including the Cathedral of Nôtre Dame in Paris. His other important restorations include the cathedrals of Amiens, Chartres, and Reims; the château of Pierrefonds; and the beautiful city of Carcassonne.
His writings exerced a strong influence, not only in his day, but even later to shape the modern rationalistic architecture.
In his old age, Viollet-le-Duc moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, where he constructed a villa (since destroyed). He died there.
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