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NOTRE DAME

IN PICTURES: Fire and reconstruction at Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral

One year on from the blaze that devastated Paris' historic Notre Dame cathedral, the site sits empty as reconstruction work is halted by the lockdown.

IN PICTURES: Fire and reconstruction at Paris' Notre Dame cathedral
All photos: AFP

On the evening of April 15th, 2019, fire broke out in the roof of Paris' 13th century Notre-Dame cathedral, which at the time was undergoing renovation work.

Within a shockingly short time, the flames had engulfed the roof, bringing the cathedral's spire crashing to the ground as thousands of Parisians watched in horror.

After an all-night firefighting operation the Pompiers de Paris managed to bring the flames under control and no-one was hurt during the fire.

The ashes had barely cooled before the political row broke out – with traditionalists wanting to restore it exactly as it was while modernists wanted to take the opportunity to add something different, pointing out that the destroyed spire was a much later addition to the cathedral's roof.

Ideas circulated including a glass spire, a rooftop garden and a rooftop swimming pool before the French Senate decided that it should be restored in a more traditional way.

 

The exact shape of the restoration is yet to be decided.

Work finally began in late 2019 on the delicate task of dismantling the twisted and partially melted scaffolding that had been surrounding the roof when the fire broke out and clearing the burned and blackened beams so that restoration can begin.

However all work came to a halt when France enacted a nationwide lockdown on March 17th in an attempt to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

With lockdown extended until May 11th, it looks increasingly unlikely that president Emmanuel Macron's ambition to have it fully restored in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024 will not be realised.

The cause of the fire was found to be accidental, although prosecutors have been unable to determine whether it was faulty wiring in the renovation works or a poorly extinguished cigarette that started the blaze.

At 8pm on Wednesday, the cathedral's bells will ring out to mark the anniversary of the fire.

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HISTORY

Notre-Dame restoration work begins as Paris cathedral on track to reopen in 2024

France's Notre-Dame cathedral is finally ready to undergo restoration work more than two years after a blaze ravaged the heritage landmark, and remains on course to reopen in 2024, authorities said Saturday, following months of painstaking work to secure the building.

Notre-Dame restoration work begins as Paris cathedral on track to reopen in 2024

The great mediaeval edifice survived the inferno on April 15th, 2019, but the spire collapsed and much of the roof was destroyed.

The focus until now had been on making the cathedral safe before restoration work could begin, which included the strenuous task of removing 40,000 pieces of scaffolding that were damaged in the blaze.

“The cathedral stands solid on its pillars, its walls are solid, everything is holding together,” said Jean-Louis Georgelin, head of the public entity tasked with rebuilding the cathedral.

Scaffolding in the interior of the building as the restoration phase begins. Photo by Thomas SAMSON / POOL / AFP

“We are determined to win this battle of 2024, to reopen our cathedral in 2024. It will be France’s honour to do so and we will do so because we are all united on this goal.”

The aim is to celebrate the first full service in the cathedral on April 16th, 2024 – five years after the fire – despite delays caused by the pandemic and the lead that spread during the blaze.

The Notre-Dame spire, a later addition to the medieval building, was completely destroyed in the blaze. Photos by AFP

Authorities will now call for tenders to select the companies to carry out the restoration work.

The cathedral’s interior walls and floors will also undergo “a thorough cleaning process” later this month.

Notre-Dame’s famous Grand Organ is already being restored, with its 8,000 pipes dismantled and sent to organ builders all over France.

It is expected to be put together again in October 2023, said Georgelin, the former head of France’s armed forces who was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to oversee rebuilding efforts.

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