The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is an iconic monument that has played a significant role in the history of France. The cathedral is over 850 years old and has been through several renovations and restorations over the centuries.
On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral, causing significant damage to the building. The fire started in the attic of the cathedral and quickly spread to its wooden roof. The blaze was so intense that it caused the spire to collapse.
What happened after the fire?
After the fire, President Emmanuel Macron pledged to rebuild Notre Dame within five years. In response to this pledge, several wealthy donors came forward to donate funds for the restoration project.
The French government also launched an international competition to design a new spire for Notre Dame. However, this decision was met with criticism from some who believed that the cathedral should be restored to its original state rather than being modernized with a new spire.
Current status of restoration work:
Since then, restoration work at Notre Dame has been underway. Initially, workers had to remove melted scaffolding that was installed before the fire but had become dangerously unstable during it.
As of now, workers have completed removing debris from inside the cathedral and are in the process of securing its structure. The next step is restoring damaged parts of the building’s stone walls and repairing its flying buttresses.
- Workers have completed stabilizing the north transept.
- The statues from Notre Dame’s spire have been removed for cleaning.
- Around 400 tons of lead were released into Paris during the fire; removing this lead could take up to another year.
The impact of COVID-19 on restoration work:
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down restoration work at Notre Dame Cathedral. The lockdowns and restrictions in place have made it challenging for workers to continue their work. However, restoration work has resumed since May 2020, albeit at a slower pace than before.
Conclusion:
The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral is a significant undertaking that will take several years to complete. While there have been some setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, progress is being made in restoring this iconic monument to its former glory. With the continued efforts of dedicated workers and generous donors, Notre Dame Cathedral will once again become a symbol of Paris and France for generations to come.