Notre Dame: How Paris's cathedral was restored after fire
French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, broadcasting the tour on live television. This event marked the first opportunity for the public to see the interior of the iconic building since it suffered extensive damage in a massive fire in 2019.
From the tower to the colorful glass windows, everything has been entirely changed. This isn't merely a restoration following the fire; it’s a total revamp that includes eliminating years of grime and soot that accumulated since the last update.
In this section, we’ll explore the main aspects of the repair process and discuss how it was accomplished.
"The Spire Makes Its Comeback"
The fall of the spire marked the peak of the fire in 2019. While many believed it to be a medieval structure, the truth is that the original was removed in the 1790s due to safety concerns.
The structure that took its place, which was destroyed by fire five years ago, was built many years later as part of a neo-Gothic restoration led by architect Eugène Viollet-Le-Duc.
This time, the carpenters combined traditional techniques with modern technology to create and construct the large wooden foundation.
Europe's largest crane raised it into position, and then a scaffolding frame was set up, enabling workers to build the gradually rising structure.
Similar to the rest of the roof, the spire is covered with lead. At the very top, a new gold-plated weather vane has been installed to replace the original one that was lost in the fire. Although the original was found, it was too damaged to be reused.
Inside the new structure, there are sacred objects such as a thorn from the cathedral's Crown of Thorns and a scroll listing the names of 2,000 individuals who contributed to the restoration project.
The most notable aspect of the newly remodeled cathedral is how bright the stonework appears. This is due to the thorough cleaning of all the limestone blocks, with some sections even having new stones put in place.
Replacement stone was obtained from quarries located in northern France. Specialists were able to identify small characteristics in the original stone, such as specific fossils, which assisted them in pinpointing its geographic origin.
Most of the masonry remained intact, but it was not only cloaked in years of dust and grime, but also in a coating of soot and lead dust from the fire. To clean it, powerful vacuums were used first, followed by a spray that helped lift away the grime.
In total, approximately 40,000 square meters of stone have been restored.
To reconstruct the arched ceiling where the spire once was, the masons had to revisit the fundamentals of Gothic design. They utilized a wooden framework to secure the stones in position, ultimately topping it off with the keystone.
Over 1,000 Oak Trees Planted
President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron tour the cathedral.
The wooden roof, spanning a full 100 meters, was consumed by flames, leaving no trace of the 800-year-old beams. However, a prompt choice was made to replicate the original structure as closely as possible, using oak sourced from the forests of France.
Fortunately, an architect named Remi Fromont had completed a detailed research project on timber framing for his university thesis. This work became a valuable guide for carpenters.
We needed to locate around 1,200 oak trees, making sure they were perfectly straight, without any knots or a flaw known as "frost-crack," and each one had to be 13 meters in length.
A significant portion of the wood was cut by hand and then shaped with axes, similar to the methods used for beams in the 13th century.
In total, there are 35 "fermes" (the triangular frameworks that support the structure) spanning the entire length of the building.
Notre-Dame: A First Glimpse of the Renovated Cathedral
Picture credit: Getty Images
The gargoyle sculptures were restored and cleaned.
A lot of the outdoor sculptures, such as the well-known gargoyles and chimaeras (which aren’t from the medieval period), suffered damage from the powerful hoses used to extinguish the fire. Additionally, many of these pieces were already in a bad state due to pollution.
A workshop was established in front of the cathedral to fix and, if needed, replace the statues. Five of the gargoyles, originally conceived by Viollet-le-Duc, were scanned with a computer and then recreated using limestone.
Inside the cathedral, the most well-known sculptures, like The Virgin of the Pillar and The Vow of Louis XIII, remained untouched by damage. However, they've all undergone cleaning and received some minor restoration work.
The numerous artworks in the cathedral have received a thorough cleaning. Among them are the "Mays" – large-scale depictions of Christ's life that were presented as an annual offering to the cathedral by Parisian goldsmiths in the 17th century.
The Comeback Of Color
The stained-glass windows throughout the cathedral have been carefully restored, removing years of grime and soot.
One of the most notable transformations in the cathedral is the revival of color in the choir and several of the side chapels.
Once more, the fire presented a chance to uncover the beauty that had been hidden under years of grime and ash. The vibrant blues, reds, and golds have returned, blending with the refreshed limestone's creamy texture to produce a brightness that likely resembles the original atmosphere much more closely.
The same goes for the stained-glass windows. Although they were intact, they were quite dirty. They were taken apart, cleaned thoroughly, and then put back in place. The large rose windows, however, were not touched.
Once more, a lot of what guests observe today isn't truly from the medieval period; rather, it's a creation of the medieval vision envisioned by Viollet-le-Duc.
8,000 Pipes Of Great Organ Cleaned Up
The magnificent organ, constructed in the 18th century, remained unharmed by both heat and water during the fire. However, it suffered damage due to the buildup of a yellow dust – lead monoxide – inside its pipes.
The entire setup, standing 12 meters tall and featuring six keyboards, 7,952 pipes, and 19 wind-chests, was taken apart and transported to workshops located outside of Paris.
The sheep-leather linings were swapped out for new ones, and upgraded electronic controls were installed. Once everything was put back together, the instrument underwent retuning, a process that can take several months since each pipe needs to be finely adjusted.
When the Archbishop of Paris steps into the restored cathedral on December 7, his initial message will be: "Awaken, O organ, and let the praises of God resound!"
In 2023, the eight bells from the north tower were taken down in a significant operation due to their large size. They underwent cleaning and maintenance before being reinstated a few weeks ago. The largest of these bells is named Emmanuel.
After months of careful tuning on all 7,952 pipes, the cathedral organ has been meticulously restored and is now prepared for performance.
"Introducing New Chalices And Bronze Altar"
Guests will observe a transformation in the arrangement of the cathedral's worship space, as the altar, lectern, and seating were all damaged. A minimalist bronze altar has been constructed, along with new chalices for the sacraments.
The congregation now has 1,500 brand-new wooden chairs, and there is a newly constructed reliquary located behind the choir to display the Crown of Thorns.
Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has also crafted new robes for members of the clergy.
13th Century Structure Uncovered At Last
In 2022, archaeologists carried out significant digging activities on the cathedral's floor.
The renovation efforts at Notre-Dame have been a great opportunity for archaeologists, allowing them to explore underground sections that date back several centuries before the cathedral was constructed.
Among the various skeletal remains they found are those thought to be from the Renaissance poet Joachim du Bellay.
Another significant find was the meticulously buried remains of the medieval rood-screen, which once divided the holy area of the church from the congregation.
This 11-meter stone wall, erected in the 13th century, featured intricate and vibrant carvings that illustrated the life of Christ. It was taken apart in the 18th century due to new regulations in the church.
The clergy obviously believed that the remains would eventually be found again, as they seemed to have been carefully placed underground. There is a desire for the pieces to be reassembled and showcased.
Although the renovation has made significant progress, it’s not finished yet. Scaffolding remains in place on a large part of the eastern side, and in the years ahead, the exterior walls of the apse and sacristy will require attention.
There are also intentions to revamp the esplanade and establish a museum in the adjacent Hôtel-Dieu hospital.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The baptistery was created by the French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet.
