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Paris’s Gothic jewel to reopen five years after fire | Global News Avenue

Paris’s Gothic jewel to reopen five years after fire

Notre Dame de Paris before reconstructionGetty Images

The world got its first look at the glorious new Notre Dame on Friday as French President Emmanuel Macron announced the cathedral’s imminent reopening in a televised announcement.

Five and a half years after the devastating fire of 2019, Paris’s Gothic treasures have been rescued, restored and refurbished, providing visitors with a stunning visual treat.

The president, accompanied by his wife Brigitte and Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, launched a series of ceremonies that culminated in his official “entry” into the cathedral on December 7, with the first ceremony the next day Catholic mass.

He will address some 1,300 craftsmen gathered in the nave after touring the highlights of the building’s €700m (£582m) refurbishment, which included replacing medieval frames destroyed in a fire with huge roof timbers and women’s acknowledgments.

Notre Dame’s renovated interior has been a closely guarded secret – only a few photos have been released over the years to mark the progress of the renovation work.

But those who have recently been inside say the experience is breathtaking, with the cathedral’s new clarity and brightness a stark contrast to the gloom that had previously prevailed.

On April 15, 2019, flames and thick smoke billowed from the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.Getty Images

On April 15, 2019, a fire engulfed the medieval cathedral in Paris

“The word that best describes this day is ‘brilliant,'” said an Elysée Palace insider closely involved in the restoration work.

“One will discover the splendor of the cut stone, which has a perfect white color that may not have been seen in the cathedral for centuries.”

On the evening of April 15, 2019, Viewers around the world were stunned as footage of orange flames spreading along the cathedral’s roof was broadcast liveand then—at the height of the fire—the 19th-century spire collapsed.

The cathedral’s structure had already been a cause for concern before the fire, which was undergoing exterior renovations. Theories as to the cause of the fire include a cigarette left behind by a worker or an electrical fault.

About 600 firefighters worked for 15 hours.

At one point, it was feared that the eight bells of the north tower were in danger of collapsing, which could lead to the collapse of the tower itself and possibly much of the cathedral’s walls.

The final structure was preserved.

Destroyed were the spire, the wooden roof beams known as the “forest”, and the stone vaults above the center of the transepts and part of the nave.

Falling timber and masonry and water from fire hoses also caused extensive damage.

Thankfully, the list of items that have been preserved is much longer – including all of the stained glass windows, most of the statues and artwork, and the sacred relic known as the Crown of Thorns. The organ, the second largest in France, was badly affected by dust and smoke, but can be restored.

Cathedral clergy also celebrate certain “miracles” – miraculous survivors.

These include the 14th-century choir statue Our Lady of the Column, which was nearly crushed by falling masonry.

Just four days before the fire, the sixteen massive bronze statues of the apostles and evangelists surrounding the steeple were removed for renovation.

After touring the damage the next day, Macron made what seemed to many at the time a hasty promise: to reopen Notre Dame to visitors within five years.

The law established a public agency to manage the work, and calls for funds were immediately responded to. A total of 846 million euros was raised, mostly from big sponsors but also from hundreds of thousands of small donors.

Responsibility for this task was given to Jean-Louis Georgelin, a no-nonsense army general who shared Macron’s impatience with committees and “heritage” institutions.

“They’re used to dealing with frigates. This is an aircraft carrier,” he said.

Georgelin was universally praised for the project’s undoubted success, but he died in an accident in the Pyrenees in August 2023 and was replaced by Philippe Jost.

An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry workers, art experts, sculptors and engineers were involved in the project, providing a huge impetus to the development of French arts and crafts.

As a result of the publicity, the number of apprentices in many trades, such as stone carving, increased significantly.

“(The Notre Dame project) is the equivalent of the World’s Fair, it showcases our craftsmanship. It is an international showcase for excellence,” said Pascal Payen-Appenzeller, whose association is dedicated to Promote traditional building skills.

The project’s first priority was to secure the site and then dismantle the massive metal scaffolding that had previously surrounded the spire but had melted in the fire and fused with the stonework.

This aerial photo shows a crane next to the scaffolding of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as the sun rises on Nov. 25, 2024, days before the cathedral reopened. Getty Images

The 850-year-old Gothic building has been undergoing renovation work since 2019

A decision had to be made early on as to the nature of the renovation: whether to faithfully reproduce the medieval architecture and the 19th-century Neo-Gothic changes made by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, or to use the opportunity to put a modern stamp on the building.

Appeals to the new design led to unusual ideas, including glass roofs, green “eco-roofs”, giant flames in place of spiers, and spiers topped with lasers that shoot vertically into the sky.

In the face of opposition from experts and the public, all was abandoned and the reconstruction remained largely true to the original appearance – albeit with some concessions to modern materials and safety requirements. For example, roof timbers are now protected by sprinklers and partitions.

The only remaining point of contention is Macron’s desire for a modern design for the stained glass windows in the six side chapels. Artists have submitted entries but have been met with strong opposition from many in the French art community.

Macron sought to make the renovation of Notre Dame a theme and symbol.

He was closely involved in the project and visited the cathedral several times.

His political fortunes are at an all-time low after a crushing defeat in July’s parliamentary election and the reopening is a much-needed boost to morale.

Some say he stole the show by organizing Friday’s ceremony a week before the official reopening, officially marking the end of the project. This means that the long-awaited first images of the interior will inevitably focus on him as well.

Elysee Palace officials pointed out in their reply that the cathedral, like all French religious buildings under the 1905 law, belongs to the state and the Catholic Church is its “designated user”; without Macron’s rapid mobilization, this work would not have been possible. Almost done.

“Five years ago, everyone thought it would be difficult to keep the president’s promises,” said an Elysée Palace insider.

“Today, we not only prove that it is possible, but that it is what everyone desires deep down.

“What people will see (in the new Notre Dame) is the splendor and power of collective willpower — French style“.

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