Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the symbols of Paris, is beginning to be reborn three years after the fire that destroyed its roof and took control of one of the most emblematic Gothic temples of Christianity, whose restoration is progressing at the planned pace. It will reopen for worship in 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to visit the works this Friday, which will be his first official act after three weeks of intense operations. election campaign set out for re-election.
Three years ago, when the embers were still hot, he promised. rebuild the cathedral in five years. While those responsible find it too ambitious and believe it would be possible to celebrate the Mass at that time, it is still a calendar that has been kept as a compass, but it is not so clear that it will be open to the 13 million visitors it received before the fire. .
For now, the worship that needs to be done abroad is just like Hz. square of the main facadeThe same person who sees thousands of tourists pass by every day to photograph the cathedral’s most visible face.
Restoration at a good pace
This restoration progress at a marked rate, and after passing the consolidation stage they begin to restore the original form of the cathedral.
workers already remove damaged material secure the structures and cover the temple with a temporary roof while you wait for the new one to arrive.
Additionally, they have I cleaned the walls from the lead that impregnated them during fire, and incidentally from the effects of time, so they would appear whiter when the scaffolding covering them was removed.
Next year, the most grandiose phase of the rebuilding is planned, which will mean the re-raising of the burning needle on the afternoon of April 15, 2019, in the same manner as the one done by the architect in the 19th century. Eugene Viollet Duke.
This will require the establishment of a new organizational structure before the end of this year. 600 ton pier, It will also form the basis for the construction of the new coffered ceiling, where 1,000 oak trees have been felled across the country and are being converted into wooden structures at 45 sawmills.
Restoration continues inside. 24 chapels While the heavily damaged organ was restored in three workshops in central and southern France, they were already restored to their pre-combustion condition.
surprises
But the internal cleansing was accompanied by an archaeological campaign that brought to light some of the secrets the temple still holds. Victor Hugo.
These excavations, which were planned as three weeks, took two months and were unearthed. two important findings. First, an anthropomorphic lead sarcophagus placed 80 centimeters below the floor of the nave, which experts attribute to a high religious leader.
Also, among the rubble transepta relic with a needle on it Old altar from the 13th century 500 years later, it was destroyed to adapt to the new cultic needs of the time.
Their wealth lies in the fact that they protect a place. very colorful It is better than the now preserved medieval remains of Notre Dame in the Louvre museum, representing a significant advance in the knowledge of the original temple.
Together with archaeologists, workers and experts, scaffolding maze Today, the cathedral also hosts researchers who are trying to determine the causes of the disaster that paralyzed the whole world.
Research sources show that, accidental fire hypothesis Due to the restoration work going on in 2019, it remains the one that weighs the most, although others are currently not ruled out, such as a possible voluntary human intervention.
Investigations show that the flames formed in the beams in the southeast corner of the transept, bringing some to light. structural deficiencies and in the firefighting system, which delays the alarm and delays the subsequent arrival of the fire. firefighters.