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Night April 15, 2019flames engulfed the magnificent 12th century building, which had existed for more than 200 years in construction. About 400 firefighters worked through the night in
Night April 15, 2019flames engulfed the magnificent 12th century building, which had existed for more than 200 years in construction. About 400 firefighters worked through the night in hell to avoid the worst. The fire was completely extinguished only the next morning.
Nobody would believe it, but In just five years, the restoration of the cathedral was completed.. It was a work worthy of every superlative, which mobilized all kinds of knowledge to restore the splendor of this iconic building, as well as the history associated with France and its influence throughout the world.
After the tragedy, expert architects They estimate that it will take 20 to 25 years of work for Notre Dame to rise from the ashes.such was the enormity of the task. The fall of the spire pierced the vault, partially burned the roof structure, and melted the lead covering. The towers were barely saved. The cathedral was still standing, but its structure had weakened considerably.
“We will restore Notre Dame Cathedral. All together. This is part of our French destiny,” said the French President. Emmanuel Macronwhile the flame was still burning.
The head of state gave himself five years to restore the building (the property of the French state). Soon after the fire, several rich people industry groups and individuals Anonymous showed their generosity.
In just 24 hours more than 800 million eurosWith 340 thousand donors from 150 countries of the world. The titanic work that was about to begin would involve 250 leading companies, as well as more than 500 artisans selected for their skills in each field (architects, engineers, archaeologists, restorers, scientists, carpenters, masons, masons). , carpenters, rope access technicians, painting, sculpture or stained glass restorers, organ builders, photographers and all administrative teams…). An adventure as human as it is technological.
The safety phase will last two years. They are used robots to clean the shipwhere it is dangerous to drive while workers are clearing away the rubble above the huge vault. Sensors were installed everywhere, recording the slightest suspicious movement. Cleaning up the area is also not an easy task: 450 tons of lead partially evaporated into the atmosphere.
The work required a large crane (80 meters), three mobile cranes and three gondola cars. bending buttresses and dismantling damaged scaffolding. In turn, the main architects of the historical monuments, masons and masons examined, cleared, diagnosed and strengthened the vaults.
In the months following the fire, debate raged:The cathedral should be rebuilt along identical lines or given a “modern architectural touch.”according to the French President? Fifteen months later, Emmanuel Macron made the decision, perhaps reluctantly choosing the simplest option: to restore the Gothic treasure in an identical form, thanks to the 19th-century cathedral plans that have all been preserved.
Notre Dame would not be Notre Dame without its historical foundation – the forest.. Before the fire, some beams still came from trees felled around 1160-1170. After the tragedy in France, more than 1,000 oak trees were cut down to restore the interlacing beams that support the roof of Notre Dame. It was rebuilt exactly the same as in the Middle Ages. Carpenters engrave the signs of the first builders on the beams: five crescent-shaped semicircles first recorded 800 years ago..
Each tree in the forest is selected for diameter, straightness and length to suit a specific part of the frame of the nave, choir, spire and transept of exceptional dimensions: Length 100 m, nave width 13 m, transept 40 m, height 10 m. After the trusses were installed, the nave and choir floors were installed.
From Viollet-le-Ducthe famous architect who restored the cathedral in the 19th century never built a spire of such height: 96 meters, original carpentry masterpiece.
100 meters of scaffolding were erected. The lead decorations were faithfully reproduced, as well as the cross and rooster (installed in 1859) – for Christians a symbol of the return of light after the night. Part of the base’s lead roof is still missing, as are the statues of apostles and saints removed before the fire for restoration, which will be reinstalled in the first half of 2025.
eight bellstwo of which were damaged in the fire were also restored and returned to their place in the north bell tower of the cathedral.
No one alive has ever seen Notre Dame so bright, so enlarged, as time, pollution, dirt and candle smoke have greatly darkened the place. The interior of the cathedral was completely cleaned, including the walls, vaults and decorations, emphasizing the whiteness of the stone. Paul has been returned to his original black and white chessboard..
Notre Dame Cathedral is more than illuminated 120 stained glass windows from the 13th to 20th centuries.. During the fire, the vaulted ceiling acted as a shield, isolating more than 3,000 m² of stained glass, and firefighters were able to control the water to save all the stained glass. They were also cleaned and restored to their former glory.
By 2026, modern stained glass windows, requested by Emmanuel Macron, will have to replace five of the six bays of Notre Dame’s nave (on the Seine side). designed in the 19th century by Viollet-Le-Duc.. These windows, like the others, were not damaged by the fire, but they were very dirty.
The liturgical furniture is now made of brown bronze, and the 1,500 chairs have an oak openwork design. And the organ was restored to its former grandeur: covered with lead dust, its 8,000 pipes were assembled one after another. The large “May” paintings, altar paintings commissioned annually by great artists between 1630 and 1707, were also restored. the guild of jewelers, which donated them to the cathedral.
Visitors to Notre Dame will not see it, but some discreet pipes They now travel across the cathedral’s roof structure, ready to release millions of micro-droplets of water to fight “directly” fires and fires. avoid scenario 2019. For the first time in a French cathedral, this fogging mechanism is an asset that Notre Dame acquired during renovation to strengthen the fire protection system.
“Work of the Century”the largest restoration project in Europe, continues despite the accidental death of General Georgelin in August 2023. His right hand Philippe Josttook the reins a few weeks later. Reconstruction phase only This will cost 550 million euros out of 846 million donations.. There is currently a surplus of almost 150 million euros for additional external restoration work.
In 2017, 12 million people visited Notre Dame.. Diocese and public institution They expect 14 to 15 million visitors between now and 2025.following the reopening of this World Heritage building, which has once again become an impressive site.
RFI
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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