President Macron Praises “Impossible” Notre-Dame Restoration

French President Emmanuel Macron has commended the workers for accomplishing the “impossible” feat of restoring Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, following the extensive fire that consumed the Gothic landmark in 2019. The public received its initial glimpse inside a magnificent, revitalized Notre-Dame on Friday, as President Macron led a televised tour in anticipation of the cathedral’s upcoming re-opening. After five and a half years since the destructive blaze, this Gothic treasure of Paris has been salvaged, renewed, and upgraded, promising visitors an astonishing visual experience. Addressing the skilled men and women involved in the renovation, President Macron stated: “The blaze at Notre-Dame was a national wound, and you have been its remedy through will, through work, through commitment.” “I am so deeply grateful, France is so deeply grateful,” the president declared during his address, further remarking: “you have brought Notre-Dame back”. President Macron, joined by his wife Brigitte and Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris, initiated a series of ceremonies set to conclude with a formal “entry” into the cathedral on December 7, followed by the inaugural Catholic Mass on December 8. Upon entering the newly restored cathedral, Macron described it as now “repaired, reinvented and rebuilt.” He added, “It is sublime.” Subsequently, he was presented with key aspects of the structure’s €700m (£582m) renovation, which featured the substantial roof timbers installed to replace the medieval framework destroyed by the fire. Prior to President Macron’s inspection, the revitalized interior of Notre-Dame had been maintained as a closely-held secret, with only a limited number of images released over time to illustrate the advancement of the restoration efforts. Observers who had a glimpse inside on Friday were convinced that it offers a spectacular experience, revealing a new, fresh appearance for the cathedral. Beyond merely renovating or reconstructing the roof’s structure, the project also involved a thorough cleaning of accumulated grime and soot from the interior, which had been present since the previous restoration in the 1850s. On the evening of April 15, 2019, global audiences watched in dismay as live broadcasts showed orange flames engulfing the cathedral’s roof, followed by the 19th-century spire collapsing at the height of the blaze. The cathedral, whose structural integrity was already a concern before the inferno, was undergoing external renovation at that time. Potential causes of the fire include a worker’s discarded cigarette or an electrical malfunction. Approximately 600 firefighters combated the fire for 15 hours. The incident resulted in no fatalities or injuries. There was a moment when concerns arose that the eight bells within the north tower might fall, potentially leading to the collapse of the tower itself and a significant portion of the cathedral’s walls. Ultimately, the main structure was preserved. The elements destroyed included the spire, the wooden roof beams (referred to as the “forest”), and the stone vaulting situated above the transept’s center and a section of the nave. Additionally, considerable damage resulted from falling timber and stonework, as well as from water used by firehoses. Fortunately, a far more extensive list of items was salvaged, encompassing all stained-glass windows, the majority of statues and artworks, and the sacred relic known as the Crown of Thorns. The organ, which is France’s second largest, sustained significant damage from dust and smoke but was deemed reparable. Clergy at the cathedral also acknowledged several “miraculés” – miraculous survivors. Among these is the 14th-century statue in the choir, known as the Virgin of the Pillar, which narrowly escaped being crushed by falling masonry. Sixteen substantial copper statues depicting the Apostles and Evangelists, originally encircling the spire, had been removed for renovation only four days prior to the fire. Following his inspection of the damage the subsequent day, President Macron made a pledge that many initially perceived as hasty: to ensure Notre-Dame would be accessible to visitors within five years. A public entity was legally established to oversee the project, and a fundraising appeal garnered an immediate outpouring of support. A total of €846m was collected, largely from major sponsors but also from hundreds of thousands of individual contributors. The responsibility for this undertaking was assigned to Jean-Louis Georgelin, a pragmatic army general who mirrored Macron’s frustration with bureaucratic committees and the established “heritage” institutions. Georgelin is widely credited for the project’s undeniable success; however, he passed away in an accident in the Pyrenees in August 2023 and was succeeded by Philippe Jost. Approximately 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry-workers, art experts, sculptors, and engineers were involved in the project, significantly benefiting French arts and crafts. Numerous trades, including stone-carving, have experienced a notable rise in apprenticeships due to the project’s public exposure. Pascal Payen-Appenzeller, whose association advocates for traditional building skills, stated: “[The Notre Dame project] has been the equivalent of a World Fair, in the way it has been a showcase for our craftsmanship. It is a superb shop-window internationally.” The initial phase of the project involved securing the site, followed by the removal of the extensive mass of metal scaffolding that had encircled the spire but had melted during the fire and fused with the stonework. An early decision concerned the approach to renovation: whether to meticulously replicate the medieval structure and the 19th-century Neo-Gothic alterations introduced by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, or to seize the chance to imbue the building with a contemporary character. A call for novel designs yielded unconventional proposals, such as a glass roof, an “eco-roof” featuring greenery, a colossal flame replacing the spire, and a spire crowned with a vertical laser beam projecting into the sky. Due to resistance from both experts and the public, these concepts were discarded, and the reconstruction largely adheres to the original design, albeit with some adaptations for contemporary materials and safety standards. For instance, the roof timbers are now safeguarded by sprinklers and partitioning. The sole unresolved point of contention pertains to President Macron’s wish for a modern aesthetic for the stained-glass windows in six side-chapels. Artists have entered submissions for a competition, yet significant opposition exists within the French arts community. President Macron has endeavored to establish the Notre-Dame renovation as a central theme and symbol. He has maintained close involvement with the undertaking, visiting the cathedral on multiple occasions. At a time when his political standing is at its lowest point, subsequent to challenging parliamentary elections in July, the re-opening provides a crucial uplift in morale. Critics suggested he was monopolizing attention by arranging Friday’s ceremony, officially intended to signify the project’s completion, a week before the official re-opening. This implies that the initial, highly anticipated images of the interior will unavoidably feature him. In response, Elysée officials highlight that the cathedral, similar to all French religious structures under a 1905 law, is state-owned, with the Catholic Church designated as its “assigned user.” They also assert that without President Macron’s swift initiative, the project would not have been finished as promptly. An Elysée insider commented: “What people will see [in the new Notre Dame] is the splendour and the strength of collective will-power – à la française.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content found on external sites. Details concerning their approach to external linking are available.