Il 15 April 2019 a raging fire has engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral. Following this disaster, an extraordinary restoration project was launched, funded through the generosity of 340.000 donors from 150 countries, mobilized since the night of the fire.
In 2024, the public institution will return Notre-Dame Cathedral to the faithful and visitors of all the world. This exceptional human adventure takes place in the heart of Paris and in many workshops
in France: comrades, craftsmen, architects, engineers and researchers are mobilized everywhere to revive the building. These men and women join the long line of builders who shaped the history of this World Heritage Site.
The history of Notre-Dame cathedral
When, around 1160, the bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, decided to rebuild the cathedral, he resolutely chose modernity. The monument was designed according to the principles of the nascent Gothic architecture. Since the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the choir has risen from the ground, the nave unfolds its five vases and the towers of the facade are gradually erected. To integrate the latest innovations and bring plenty of light into the building, the original layout was modified during the first half of the XNUMXth century. The elevation in the nave and choir is even more airy, the walls disappearing to leave more space for high bays.
In the mid-XNUMXth century, at the junction between the choir and the nave, Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil rebuilt the transept. In each arm of this huge fully glazed roses let in a multicolored light.
The name of another architect is inextricably linked to Notre-Dame Cathedral, that of Viollet-le-Duc, who restored the building between 1843 and 1865. He revisited all the parts, in collaboration with Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus, then alone since 1857. Visionary architect, Viollet-le-Duc has created the Parisian cathedral the demonstration of his theory of restoration, leaving an indelible mark on the inside
Monument.
Reconstructed spire and famous sculptures
It is its spire that will be rebuilt identically and that will host again in 2024 the 16 restored sculptures, deposited four days before the fire and presented in the exhibition.
The result of a co-production between the establishment responsible for the public conservation and restoration of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, which commissioned the project, and the Cité de l'architecture and heritage, this exhibition offers a privileged link with the currently inaccessible building to the public. This restoration allows us to discover the know-how of the companions and craftsmen who work to return the cathedral to worship and visit in 2024. Finally, it is an opportunity to highlight the permanence and evolution of the techniques used on heritage sites.
The variety of works and objects presented thus allows us to grasp the materiality of the cathedral, from the Middle Ages to the current restoration site. The exhibition presents some secrets, such as the presence of staples dating back to the Middle Ages, masterpieces, such as sculptures, paintings or the stained glass windows and the challenges
stakeholders on the site, like the catering of its frame.
Cover image: Les peintures murales retrouvent la vivacité de leurs couleurs de les premières étapes de nettoyage © Patrick Zachmann/Magnum Photos
