Notre Dame de Paris

[AndyinPA]

https://apnews.com/article/paris-emmanu ... 6446821912

PARIS (AP) — The rector of Notre Dame said Friday that the burned-out Paris cathedral and its esplanade could remain a building site for another “15 or 20 years.”

Rector Patrick Chauvet spoke to The Associated Press following Good Friday ceremonies, including venerating the “Crown of Thorns” at Notre Dame’s temporary liturgical base, the nearby church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois.

He added that: “I can guarantee that there’s work to do!”

In the days following the April 15, 2019, blaze that engulfed Paris’ Gothic gem, French President Emmanuel Macron set a five-year restoration deadline for 2024, when Paris is to host the Summer Olympics. But French officials quickly backpedaled Macron’s statement, conceding that it was unrealistic to complete the enormous project by that time.

[RTH10260]

[Volkonski]

[AndyinPA]

[p0rtia]

Good to hear this. Normal news. Life going on quietly, with due respect to the importance of history. I need this.

[MisterC]

Glad to hear they can soon commence reconstruction work, now about all those funds that were promised...

The tragedy of the fire at Notre Dame hit fairly close to home, as my home town cathedral suffered a near identical fire in the summer of 1968. Shoddy workmen ignored a total ban on any open flames (they were working on copper roofing, which is infinitely easier to do with a blowtorch) and tragedy struck, resulting in a spire that was completely ablaze in a matter of moments.

The cathedral is a World Heritage site, as it is the burial site of 21 Danish kings and 19 Queens, and it would have been a national tragedy had the spire collapsed into the transept and choir underneath.

To cap it off, then when it was rebuilt, they chose to utilise all sorts of preservatives and fireproofing chemicals (it was the 1960's after all), resulting in a corrosive coctail that meant the whole thing had to be replaced again in the 2000's.

[Sam the Centipede]

That's Roskilde, isn't it?

I have visited the museum of Viking ships there, the hulks that were sunk in the harbor as a barricade and then recovered by archeologists. Fascinating. But I didn't have time for the cathedral, which is a shame. I'll put it on the list for a future trip to Copenhagen.

It's interesting to see and compare both the unrestored hulls in Roskilde, most missing the sides and upper parts which (iirc) are now outlined in metal framework, and the three fully restored boats in Oslo, at the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy. The Bygdøy boats are so elegant with their sleek lines, which is hinted at in Roskilde but requires one to imagine the missing parts.

[MisterC]

That's Roskilde, isn't it?

I have visited the museum of Viking ships there, the hulks that were sunk in the harbor as a barricade and then recovered by archeologists. Fascinating. But I didn't have time for the cathedral, which is a shame. I'll put it on the list for a future trip to Copenhagen.

It's interesting to see and compare both the unrestored hulls in Roskilde, most missing the sides and upper parts which (iirc) are now outlined in metal framework, and the three fully restored boats in Oslo, at the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy. The Bygdøy boats are so elegant with their sleek lines, which is hinted at in Roskilde but requires one to imagine the missing parts.

It is. It's been far too long since I visited the viking museum itself, but I've walked past their outdoor workshops numerous times. It's where they build replica ships and experiment with techniques, which I always found to be much more interesting.

[RTH10260]

Modernization of Notre-Dame Interior Gets Green Light
A commission of heritage experts approved proposals to bring in contemporary art and move some furniture to make more space for visitors. Critics say it will debase the centuries-old church.

By Constant Méheut
Dec. 10, 2021

PARIS — The latest in a series of controversies that have surrounded the renovation of Notre-Dame unfolded on Thursday, when a commission of heritage experts gave the green light to a revamp of the interior of the fire-stricken cathedral.

France’s National Heritage and Architecture Commission approved proposals by the diocese of Paris to bring a more modern look to Notre-Dame before its planned reopening in 2024, including the installation of contemporary artworks and new lighting effects. Opponents say the changes will debase the 850-year-old cathedral and disturb the harmony of its Gothic design.

The heritage commission also authorized cathedral administrators to rearrange the tabernacle and other items to create more room for visitors. Msgr. Patrick Chauvet, Notre-Dame’s rector, said the proposals would allow for an easier and more pleasant visit to the religious monument and create “a dialogue” between Notre-Dame’s medieval architecture and new, more modern features.

Artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries could be placed next to old master paintings from the cathedral’s collection, such as Mathieu Le Nain’s “Nativity of the Virgin Mary,” Chauvet said.

He added that the diocese was also considering light projections on the walls of some chapels that would display short text excerpts from the Bible.

Most of the confessionals would be moved to the first floor in the rearrangement of the cathedral’s 2,000 or so furniture items, Chauvet said, and Notre-Dame’s more than 12 million annual visitors would now enter through the central portal instead of via a side door.




https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/10/arts ... y-art.html

[AndyinPA]

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out. The Cathedral of Montreal has inside lighting effects, and it made it a very memorable cathedral for me.

[northland10]

How dare you replace that burnout light bulb. My family gave the bulb to the church 40 years ago. You are destroying our history by replacing the light bulb.

[pipistrelle]

How dare you replace that burnout light bulb. My family gave the bulb to the church 40 years ago. You are destroying our history by replacing the light bulb.

I suspect indoor plumbing with running water was added at some point.

[RTH10260]

How dare you replace that burnout light bulb. My family gave the bulb to the church 40 years ago. You are destroying our history by replacing the light bulb.

the centuries of history lost when they replaced the smoking torches by electricity

[Volkonski]

[Phoenix520]

The National Cathedral in DC employed stonemasons from the original Italian families who built the Cathedral every time they undertook significant repairs. Are they doing similar with Notre Dame?

[AndyinPA]

The National Cathedral in DC employed stonemasons from the original Italian families who built the Cathedral every time they undertook significant repairs. Are they doing similar with Notre Dame?

My understanding is that they are.

[jcolvin2]

The National Cathedral in DC employed stonemasons from the original Italian families who built the Cathedral every time they undertook significant repairs. Are they doing similar with Notre Dame?

Notre Dame de Paris was largely completed in the 13th Century. If current repairs were being performed by the descendants of the original builders, that would be quite the family tradition.

The National Cathedral in DC was only completed in the latter part of the 20th Century. (I suspect some of the skilled Italian stone masons who worked on it moved up to NYC to work on the St. John the Divine Cathedral in Morningside Heights, which is still unfinished as far as I know.)

[Volkonski]

ABC13 Houston
@abc13houston
·
41m
Nearly 3 years after the Notre Dame fire, restoration has finally begun.
@NatGeo
received unprecedented access to #NotreDame and published stunning images that capture the seismic effort of rebuilding a masterpiece. Find out more at http://NatGeo.com.

[AndyinPA]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/ ... notre-dame

Several tombs and a leaden sarcophagus likely dating from the 14th century have been uncovered by archaeologists at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as work continues on the building’s reconstruction after its devastating 2019 fire.

The burial sites “of remarkable scientific quality” were unearthed during preparatory work for rebuilding the ancient church’s spire at the central spot where the transept crosses the nave, France’s culture ministry announced late Monday.

Among the tombs was a “completely preserved, human-shaped sarcophagus made of lead”.

It is thought the coffin was made for a senior dignitary in the 1300s – the century after the cathedral’s construction.

[John Thomas8]

[RTH10260]

[AndyinPA]

Thanks.

[Volkonski]

Notre Dame cathedral's spire revealed in Paris as reconstruction continues after fire
Scaffolding that shrouded the top of Notre Dame cathedral following a devastating fire in April 2019 is being removed, marking a milestone in its reconstruction

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wi ... -107195050

As the shell at the summit has been taken down in recent days, it has revealed the cathedral’s new spire for the first time, adorned with a golden rooster and cross, offering a glimpse of the building's expected appearance upon completion.

A resident near the cathedral, Frederico Benani, who witnessed the 2019 blaze, felt emotional Tuesday at seeing the spire once more.

“I can open the window in the morning. I see Notre Dame. I see the spire — it’s for me, beautiful and it’s much better (than) before," Benani said. "It gives us hope."

There has been anticipation among Paris residents as Notre Dame is on track to reopen Dec. 8. The cathedral will not be open to the public during the Paris Olympics in July and August, when the city will host millions for the Summer Games.

Much of the cathedral remains surrounded by scaffolding, which could take weeks if not months to remove. The spire alone, cathedral officials said, was protected by some 70,000 pieces of scaffolding, totaling a dizzying 600 tons.

In a symbol of resilience and renewal, a new golden rooster, reimagined as a phoenix with flaming feathers, was installed atop the spire in December, marking the cathedral’s rise from the ashes.

Other restoration efforts include the implementation of an anti-fire misting system beneath the cathedral’s roof and the recreation of the original cross.

[AndyinPA]

Appropriate.

[Volkonski]

Notre-Dame fire anniversary: Cathedral restoration nears completion

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/no ... 024-04-12/

Five years after a devastating fire, the restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral is nearing completion as the world's eyes turn to Paris for the Olympic Games.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, the cathedral's roof burst into flames. Soon, it had engulfed the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Around the world, TV viewers watched with horror as the medieval building burned.
Macron, whose second and final term ends in 2027, wants the cathedral's restoration to lift the nation's mood - and his government's approval ratings.

"Only once in a century does one host Olympic and Paralympic Games, only once in a millennium does one rebuild a cathedral," Macron said in his 2024 New Year speech.

It remains unclear what exactly caused the fire. French authorities have said an electrical fault or a burning cigarette may have been responsible.
"A firefighter told me 'Sir, take a close look at the facade because if we don't manage to put out that fire, it will all go to ruin'," remembered Laurence Alsina, who owns a bookselling stand close to the cathedral on the banks of the River Seine.

The facade held, but the damage has needed five years of intense stabilisation and restoration works.
The pride of those working on the project shines through.
"This is the construction work of a lifetime, because restoring an entire monument in all its three-dimensionality, that's quite exceptional." Emma Roux, an artisan working on the iconic stained glass windows said.
The re-opening is scheduled for December, and is currently running on schedule, according to the official leading the project.

"We are on time and on budget," Philippe Jost said last month at a Senate hearing.
Jost told lawmakers that the project had so far cost 550 million euros ($587 million), funded in part by massive donations, including from luxury sector billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. So much money has been donated that there will even be funds left over for further investment in the building, he said.

"An additional 150 million euros should be made available and - provided the approval of our sponsors - it will be used to restore the cathedral and tackle problems that predate the fire, which mainly concern the exterior stonework," Jost added.

Our women's soccer loving daughter and SIL got tickets to 3 of the Olympic matches this summer and so will spend some time in Paris.