Paris1972-Versailles2003

The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris fire of April 15, 2019. As you might know , this is a symbol of Paris , sometimes more so than the Eiffel and the whole country is behind it. One of the magnificent gothic cathedrals of my belle France!  I had done several updates on its construction moving right along, and decided to condense these posts now that the cathedral is on her way to open late 2024, As a reminder, to arrive at Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris you can take the Metro/RER as metro line 4 Cité; Saint Michel – Notre-Dame RER B and C,metro lines 1 and 11 Hôtel de Ville; line 10 Maubert-Mutualité / Cluny – La Sorbonne , lines 7 and 14 Châtelet – Les Halles as well here RER A and D. Of course, the best way is to come all the way walking from your spot in Paris!

Let me tell in a condense way my posts of 2019 on it, Hope you enjoy it as I,

After the fire of April 15 2019, what was save. Well a lot such as the relics of the passion of Christ; The Crown of thorns is the most precious relic preserved in Notre Dame. According to Christian tradition, she was laid on the head of Jesus with his crucifixion. Besides the Holy Crown, Notre-Dame preserves two other relics of the passion of Christ: a piece of the cross and a nail of the passion, which could be saved. The tunic of St. Louis the white adornment of King St. Louis was evacuated from the Cathedral at the beginning of the fire, as was the discipline of St. Louis. The 16 copper statues that adorned the great arrow of Notre-Dame, were withdrawn four days before the fire. They are currently in a safe place in Périgueux, where they are being restored. These representations of the twelve apostles and the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, date back to the great restoration conducted by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 1860’s. The topping of an altar and several elements of an altar were taken out of the Inferno: six candlesticks, two candleholders, a Korean Holy Martyr, a Virgin and child. The two towers and the large stained glass window of the South façade were spared by the fire. The North and South rosettes, the two largest, are 13 metres in diameter. They are represented in medallions, prophets, Saints, Angels, Kings, scenes of the life of Saints, etc. The three rosettes present in their center, respectively, the Virgin, the child Jesus and the Christ in Majesty. The cross of the altar of Notre-Dame, Some minor damage were the great organ saved, but the organ was not burned in the fire that ravaged the building, but its structure could suffer damage inflicted by the smoke. The small organ, which was under the arrow was damaged by the fire The Minister of Culture has indicated that the “major parts” of Notre Dame treasure are safe at the safe of the City/Town Hall of Paris. She will be back already 922M euros raised in 2020.

What was destroyed . Done between 1630 and 1707, the Corporation of the Parisian goldsmiths offered every May 1 a canvas to the Cathedral. On these 76 “large Mays “, 13 are today presented in the different chapels of the nave. “There are four very large ones, notably a Laurent de la Hyre, who a priori are destroyed. The arrow, the rooster, and its relics . The arrow had already been reconstituted by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19C. Three relics were nestled in the Rooster perched on the arrow: a parcel of the Holy Crown of thorns, a relic of Saint-Denis and one of St. Genevieve. The “forest ” is lost , the roof was erase by the flames. This ensemble, of which most of the elements date from the 13C is one of the most beautiful structures in France. For architectural historians, it is a considerable loss of a heritage that tells a story and a know-how of artisans, sometimes from father to son.

The July 2019 update told you about my eternal Paris and the update on the re-construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. My devotion to the Cathedral and the symbol of France remains untouched and looking forward for an identical reconstruction, President Emmanuel Macron said “We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautiful and I want it to be completed in five years, “. Donations to the State Treasury, the National Monuments Center and the three authorized foundations (Fondation de France, Fondation du Patrimoine and Fondation Notre Dame) will be donated to the State or the public institution in charge of conservation and of the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. What is there now: Two temporary “umbrellas” (large tarpaulins) were placed above the nave and the choir, the gables north and south and west were consolidated, notably by depositing all the statues that could make them tilt. Nets were stretched over the nave and choir, whose high stained glass windows were removed. The debris of the north and south transepts have been cleared and those of the nave are being processed, thanks to the daily action of a robot. The water was also evaporated, including in the crypt. Another major project in the coming weeks: the scaffolding, originally installed for the restoration of the spire,  which collapsed during the fire  must be dismantled. But the most important phase will be the installation of hangers under the flying buttresses and the establishment of a floor to have access to the famous vault. This step will consolidate it and be reassuring about its condition. Then, several months will be necessary to evacuate the rubble which is under the vaults. The reconstruction site itself should only begin in early 2020, with tenders launched in January.

The August 2019 update! Told you about the lead contamination there, and must act to drastically reduce in the coming months pollution rates to protect all those concerned, workers on the site but also local residents, traders, second-hand booksellers as well as cleaning agents in the city.  In the 51 samples taken between April 26 and July 15 at the corner of rue d’Arcole and rue Notre-Dame, there are 31 exceedances which are pollution peaks 12 times higher than the reference value , denounced  Annie Thébaud-Mony, researcher at the association Henri Pézerat, showing a card of samples taken by the Regional Health Agency, the City and the prefecture. Pollution values ​​on the ground are extremely high on Île de la Cité and on the forecourt, but also in the 5éme and 6éme arrondissements. These measurements are up to 4,850 micrograms per m2 at the edge of the Luxembourg Garden. The Saint-Michel fountain would also be polluted. Around 400 tons of lead are then consumed and pollute the Notre Dame Cathedral, and its surroundings.Toxic metal has poured on stones and soil.

The September 2019 update! told you about the 300 tons of scaffolding built in 2018 on the roof of Notre Dame were the essential element for the restoration of the spire of the cathedral. Since the dramatic fire of April 15, this ephemeral built of 50,000 steel tubes has become a threat to the cathedral. One of the most complex aspects of the current construction site is the dismantling of this scaffold heated to more than 800 degrees, as recognize the architects responsible for this perilous operation. While this steel structure was to rise 95 meters above the ground to reach the top of the spire, the carcass that we see today above the cathedral rises to only 50 meters. A protocol of action has just been defined to remove one by one the tubes using rope access. The monument remains in danger on two levels: that of the vaults that can always fall and that of the scaffolding, which can collapse. There are nearly 200 to 300 tons of  scrap metal. As a result, during the fire, the scaffolding did not fall. But the tubes welded to each other, and were deformed. Only the side on which the arrow fell was deformed. All this makes the structure fragile. It is even miraculous that it still holds. The finish on the laying of the floor that rests on the walls drips It already exists above the choir and above the two transepts. They will then encircle on three levels the weakened scaffolding. Then ,they will build a new scaffolding that will culminate at 50 meters and on which will rest a set of beams. This is where cord trappists can go down and cut all the tubes, one by one, from top to bottom. This operation could be completed in January 2020. The Louis Philippe’s carpet saved from the waters. When the huge richly woven carpet inaugurated under Louis-Philippe for the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris was evacuated a few days after the fire, the fear of the Mobilier National was a rapid decay by the water. But delicate operations have saved it, before a restoration that will restore its luster .So another item saved!!! And I thank you. merci de fond de mon coeur à tous!

The November 2019 update! Told you that President Emmanuel Macron set a five-year course to restore the Notre Dame Cathedral. A delay that seems unrealistic to many experts. Just drying, securing and diagnosis should take almost two years. The building stakeholders are therefore skeptical about the feasibility of the operation. Nothing prevents the Ministry of Culture and the diocese from partially reopening the cathedral to the public, in order to officially hold this five-year period, without all being finished. In any case, this is the solution that seems to be emerging. It seems to me the rebuilding will last more than 5 years, in the meantime temporary services will be held!

The official Notre Dame Cathedral : https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/visiter/voir-la-cathedrale/

The Friends of Notre Dame Cathedral donations from abroad : https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-notre-dame-de-paris-inc

The official reconstruction news on the Notre Dame Cathedral : https://rebatirnotredamedeparis.fr/en

The Paris tourist office on the Notre Dame Cathedral : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/cathedrale-notre-dame-de-paris-et-son-tresor-p3576

There you go folks, we are all eagerly waiting for the moment even if events has been held and will be before full restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. Worth the wait, and do see it again, me too ! Again, hope you have enjoyed these posts on the updates of 2019 of ours ,yours Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!