The images of theNotre Dame fire, among the main symbolic monuments of France and Europe, have toured the world. Five years after that tragic event, the iconic Paris cathedral is gradually regaining its magnificent appearance and is ready to welcome the public again from 8 December 2024. Meanwhile, several important milestones have been reached in the first months of this year, such as the reconstruction of the famous spire designed by the architect Viollet-Le-Duc.
Notre Dame before and after the fire
Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Notre-Dame Cathedral has always been not only a religious site but also a symbol of art and culture and of the national identity of the French. Its history, however, has been quite troubled. In 2017, the Parisian diocese had launched a fundraiser to renovate one of the French icons in the world, to which state contributions would be added. The cathedral was, in fact, threatened by erosion caused by air pollution and rainwater, but also by the enormous influx of tourists, over 12 million visitors welcomed in less than optimal conditions, with long queues in the churchyard during the holidays and a chaotic path between the naves and the various chapels. Then the fire that devastated it on 15 April 2019.
From the very beginning, the important construction site of one of the symbolic monuments of Paris, France and Europe as a whole, was the subject of heated debates on the techniques to be used and the style to be chosen. In the end, the authorities opted for a identical reconstruction to the original cathedral. The restoration of the spire used wood from centuries-old oaks in the Bercé forest in Sarthe, chosen for its solidity, durability and plasticity. However, there was no shortage of controversysuch as those relating to the fate of the Notre-Dame windows, between those who prefer to preserve history and those who instead aim for innovation.
What stage is the restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral at?
Those who visit Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will already be able to admire the iconic one this summer spire of Viollet-le-Duc, whose reconstruction was completed last February, thus allowing it to regain its place in the skyline of the French capital, with its tip soaring up to 96 metres. In April 2019, the pennacle was devoured by flames and collapsed, causing damage to the entire central part of the cathedral. At the top of the spire the cross and a new rooster overlooking the cathedral. The sculpture, designed by architect Phillipe Villeneuve, is made of copper and covered with a layer of gold.
Inside the cathedral, the removal of the scaffolding in the presbytery allows us to rediscover the fine furniture and the big ones works of art which have never left the building, including marble and bronze statues of the vow of Louis XIII and the pictorial decorations of the choir chapels, which now reveal their colours and their full beauty. 8,000 pipes of the great organ they were reinstalled after being cleaned, while the harmonization process began. In the coming months they will also be completely restored roofs of the nave and choir.
Although much of the work has already been completed, it will continue even after the church reopens to the public. The next steps of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame include the restoration of the apse and sacristy in 2025 and the installation, within the 2026Of contemporary stained glass windows, the construction of which is currently the subject of a tender. Hugely popular with French and international visitors, Notre-Dame Cathedral is expected to welcome between 12 and 15 million people a year once it reopens, up from the 10 to 12 million people who visited before the fire.
While waiting for the reopening, those who wish can take part in an immersive virtual reality experience called “Eternelle Notre-Dame”, accessible from the forecourt, which allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of the history of the cathedral and its treasures, from its construction in the Middle Ages to the current restoration project.
