The famous spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, identical to the previous one, built by the 19th century architect Viollet-Le-Duc and which had collapsed in the fire of April 15, 2019, “should emerge again in the sky of Paris by the end of the year 2023 ”, according to the public establishment. “The site is progressing at a good pace, which allows us to be confident for a reopening at the end of 2024, in accordance with the objective set by the President of the Republic on the evening of the fire”, announced to the AFP the office of the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, like the diocese.
The rebuilt spire must be identical to the one that culminated 96 meters above the ground, with the original materials, oak wood for the structure (500 tons) and lead for the cover and ornaments (250 tons). The date of December 8, 2024 was brought forward last October by the new rector of the cathedral, Bishop Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas and General Jean-Louis Georgelin, project manager for the reconstruction site, who heads the public establishment.
The many tourists who will arrive in the capital for the Paris Olympics, whose opening ceremony is scheduled for July 2024, will not yet be able to visit this masterpiece of Gothic art. Before the fire, the cathedral attracted 12 million visitors each year.
harmful lead
Lead, which has already hampered the construction site in its infancy for health reasons, worries professionals in the arts and heritage. For this reason, the European Union intends to restrict its use.
Ms. Abdul Malak, questioned on this subject Wednesday at the National Assembly by the working group on the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame, wanted to be reassuring. According to her, France was “in full discussion” with the European Commission and had “drafted an argument on the importance of lead for heritage trades, which is gaining ground”. “The yard complies with French regulations which are one of the most demanding on a European scale concerning lead,” said his firm.
Construction of the spire will begin on site as soon as the four freestone arches that make up the vault of the transept at the heart of the cathedral have been rebuilt. “These preparatory works began this week”, according to the public establishment. Four custom-made wooden half-hangers have already been laid and the necessary stones, cut in the workshop, transported by river. Scaffolding with a floor was installed 26 meters high. Once the vault is completed and the base of the spire laid, it will gradually rise and culminate at 100 meters in the final phase of its reconstruction.
“A pedagogical and spiritual journey”
On the interior side, the cleaning and restoration of 42,000 m2 of walls have been completed, as well as those of the decorations (murals, ironwork, joinery, stained glass, sculptures) spared by the fire in the south transept. A large temporary hall has been installed in front of the facade of Notre-Dame where sculptors are working on the restoration or replacement of statues.
Concerning the liturgical arrangement which must be rejuvenated, the diocese, which finances it, has surrounded itself with an “artistic committee”. Five artist-designers must present him with a “coherent” project for the furniture. The winner will be known this summer. Asked in the magazine “La fabrique de Notre-Dame”, published by the public establishment, the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich, said he wanted “an educational and spiritual journey” which is “not the equivalent of a museum” but “expresses something of the mystery of Man and the mystery of God”.