The meticulous reconstruction of Notre-Dame

AFP English

The reconstruction of Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral, partially damaged by fire on April 15, 2019, has been a titanic undertaking. This videographic shows the main stages VIDEOGRAPHIC

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00:00The restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to its former architectural splendor

00:12has taken more than five years and the work of 250 companies and hundreds of artisans.

00:18The first part of this colossal project was the cleanup of the debris and making the building

00:23safe following the devastating fire.

00:25Then in January 2022, the reconstruction of the collapsed stonework could begin.

00:31The arch of the transept crossing was rebuilt stone by stone and from autumn 2022,

00:37the roof frame made of oak was replaced using 2,000 trees selected from French forests.

00:44The wooden frame of the spire comprises 1,000 individual parts covered in a fine layer of lead

00:50as designed by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc who restored Notre-Dame in the 19th century.

00:56At the summit of the spire, there is a new golden rooster with relics which escaped the fire placed

01:01inside it. Integrated in the roof's new wooden framework is an automatic water misting system

01:07to put out any fires. The roof's framework has also been partitioned into three sections by

01:12two metal fire trusses. Inside the cathedral, the 8,000 pipes of the organ have been cleaned

01:19and the checkerboard floor has been relayed with new furniture installed. Blackened over the

01:24centuries and by the fire, the stained glass windows, walls and the 24 chapels of the cathedral

01:30have been cleaned. The Gothic jewel has recovered its magnificence.

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