Notre-Dame de Paris regains its shape. The great lady heroine of Victor Hugo is getting a makeover before the visit of the Head of State on Friday. The cathedral regained its cross on Wednesday, at the top of its spire. The cross, overlooking a golden crown, was lifted into the air by a crane early this afternoon and installed at the top of the new spire of the cathedral, the reassembly of which, under the scaffolding, is nearing completion .
The 19th century spire collapsed in the fire of April 15, 2019 which partially destroyed this masterpiece of Gothic art built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The installation of the cross comes 48 hours before a visit to Emmanuel Macron’s construction site, organized one year to the day before the reopening for worship and visits of the building.
Contemporary stained glass windows
During this visit, the Head of State, who “will be able to approach the spire”, will pay special tribute to General Georgelin who died this summer, who led its reconstruction, indicated the Elysée. His name will be “engraved in the wood” of the arrow.
Emmanuel Macron will also be able to “respond to the letter he received from Monseigneur Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris, who proposed to him to create contemporary stained glass windows for a certain number of side chapels of the nave, in order to commemorate (…) this period very singular (…), that of the fire and the reconstruction”, according to this same source. This project, if carried out, will be led by the State, which is the owner, in conjunction with the diocese, which is the owner of the cathedral.
A Notre-Dame museum
According to the Elysée, the head of state must also decide “on the possibility of creating a Notre-Dame museum” near the building. In a preliminary report, several options are expressed concerning several buildings on the Île de la Cité.
Another subject on which he is expected: the continuation of the main construction site, beyond the reopening date. “A certain number of works remain useful and desirable”, according to the Elysée, which cited works planned before the fire such as “the restoration of the flying buttresses of the nave and the choir”. This phase 3 of the site (after the safety and restoration, phases 1 and 2) “should be” completed “at the end of the decade, [en] 2029 or 2030”, according to this same source.