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Journalism of Courage
The Notre Dame cathedral in Paris witnessed its first Mass service in five years on Sunday (December 8), a day after it was reopened to the world in a lavish ceremony featuring firefighters, world leaders and artists.
Originally built in the 12th century, the cathedral was closed following a devastating fire in April 2019. Over the last five years, it has witnessed a frenzied renovation process that attracted considerable global attention. We explain.
In 1160, Notre Dame was envisioned by Maurice de Sully, the Bishop of Paris, as a grand Gothic cathedral that would accommodate the city’s growing population. Construction began three years later and is believed to have been completed by 1260.
It routinely underwent renovations and maintenance work in the following centuries, and was the site of King Napoleon’s coronation in 1804. Its architectural beauty aside, it also counts among the enduring symbols of French culture.
On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the attic and went undetected until it was too late, allowing the fire to spread across the roof and the spire (the conical structure projecting upwards). Around 600 firefighters battled the blaze for 15 hours. Valuable artefacts like the round-stained glass windows called les roses, which date back to the Middle Ages, were spared.
However, the set of wooden roof beams called the forest, as well as the spire were destroyed. Moreover, the spread of the fire had engulfed the interiors with a cloud of lead dust, expanding the scope of restorative work needed.
While the investigation into its cause has continued to this day, French authorities uncovered no evidence of arson. It is suspected the fire stemmed from then-ongoing restoration work on the spire. A day later, President Emmanuel Macron inspected the damage and promised to restore the cathedral to its full glory within five years.
Fundraising: Macron announced a national fundraising campaign in April 2019, in which the French government would spearhead the reconstruction. However, some of the country’s wealthiest families such as the Pinault family, which owns luxury group Kering, and the Arnaults, the magnates who control the conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), donated hundreds of millions of euros.
According to a Financial Times report, the largest donors contributed over two-thirds of the budget, even as contributions flowed in from 340,000 people from 150 countries. A whopping €840 million has been collected so far.
While there was some suspicion that these donations were motivated by financial gain, certain families chose to renounce the resulting tax benefits. Donors were routinely informed of the status of their contributions, though their inputs were not solicited for the work.
Establishing a separate agency: In January 2020, Macron established the Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, a state agency entrusted with the task of restoration. Led by retired general Jean-Louis Georgelin, the agency operated autonomously and reported directly to the Elysee Palace, the seat of the President. Georgelin was reportedly selected for his no-nonsense approach and ability to cut through red tape.
However, the process was delayed at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and his death in 2022.
Envisioning the restored cathedral: Heated debate ensued, even as Macron advocated on various occasions to modernise aspects of the cathedral. His efforts bore mixed results: The restored spire is faithful to architect and restorer Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s neo-Gothic vision from the 19th century. However, the original stained glass windows which had been rescued and restored, were replaced with modern ones made by contemporary artists.
Around 2,000 masons, restorers, carpenters, art experts and engineers were employed in the process.
Limestone walls cleaned: The walls of the cathedral, spanning 40,000 square metres of limestone, were thoroughly cleaned and restored, maintaining most of the masonry work according to a BBC report.
Restored wooden roof: Some 1,200 suitable oak trees in France’s forests were felled to construct the wooden roof, with carpenters hand-sawing them into shape.
The restored spire: The reconstruction of the 96-metre-long spire relied on a massive wooden base and employed Europe’s largest crane. The spire is lined with lead like the rest of the roof and features a new gilded rooster, according to BBC. The rooster contains holy relics such as a thorn from the cathedral’s Crown of Thorns, and a parchment with the names of 2,000 people who worked on the renovation.
The Great Organ: Notre Dame houses France’s largest musical instrument, The Great Organ, built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1905. It comprises 8,000 pipes, five keyboards and 109 stops. The entire structure was disassembled and sent to Paris workshops for its restoration. Each part was retuned over several months upon reinstallation. The organ itself now features new electronic controls.
