The French President congratulated those who spend their days and nights
to renovate the building, a testimony of hope […] in this period when we are emerging from COVID-19 and the war in Europe
.
The President did not fail to underline the symbolism of this third anniversary, which coincides with the Christian holiday of Good Friday. The faithful were also able to celebrate a first liturgy in three years on the forecourt of the cathedral, in the morning.
It so happens that this religious holiday also corresponds – quite rarely – to Passover for our compatriots of the Jewish faith and to Ramadan for our compatriots of the Muslim faith.
he noted, noting a kind of synchronicity
while reaffirming its role as president of a secular republic
.
During his inspection of the site, the president described the progress of the work extraordinary
and reaffirmed the objective of returning the cathedral in five years, i.e. by 2024, even if his entourage specifies that some work may continue after reopening
.
Works in two-stroke
The objective of a reopening in 2024 concerns the interior of the cathedral, so as to make it accessible to the faithful and tourists.
According to architectural historian Jean-François Cabestan, it is a timeline possible
given the progress of the work.
Despite everything that has happened, whether it’s COVID-19 or the discovery of a high concentration of lead – all the elements were put together to delay the construction site – we have reached the end of the security, consolidation, interior and exterior cleaning of the cathedral
explains the one who teaches at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
The fire at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, April 15, 2019. The cathedral welcomed 12 million visitors a year before its closure in 2019.
Photo: Reuters/Philippe Wojazer
The stabilization of the building and its dusting, the first stages of the restoration of Notre-Dame, were completed in the summer of 2021 at a cost of 207 million Canadian dollars.
The cut stones chosen to replace those damaged during the blaze are being extracted. The reconstruction of the collapsed vaults alone requires 150 m3 new stones.
However, this has not nothing to see
with the reconstruction of the spire and the frame, says Jean-François Cabestan. More than 1,000 oak trees have been cut in different regions of the country to provide the beams needed for this work, which is due to start in 2023.
The work could continue on a decade
due to the complexity of the exterior works, for which there are still lots of strangers
.
The expert cites in particular the debate surrounding the use of lead, a source of pollution after the fire, to cover the spire and the roof of the cathedral. The town hall of Paris is reluctant to use it, while President Macron’s choice of an identical reconstruction requires it.
However, this is a choice that will have an impact on the wholebalance of the building
according to the historian.
