The “familiar silhouette” of the tower of Notre-Dame, destroyed by fire in 2019, will appear in the skies of Paris “before Christmas,” we learned on Friday from the public body responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of its construction site responsible is.
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“The project is progressing well and the solid oak structure/framework of the spire will be completed in December. Its familiar silhouette should peak again at 96 meters before Christmas,” the same source said.
However, the tower, identical to the previous one and designed by the 19th century architect Viollet-Le-Duc, which collapsed in the fire of April 15, 2019, will remain surrounded by the scaffolding necessary for the construction of this structure has been used. It “will be used for the installation of its cover and lead trim in 2024,” the facility added.
AFP
At the same time, “the assembly of the frames of the nave and choir of the cathedral – which also collapsed in the fire – will be completed in early 2024, then the installation of their roofing can also begin.” .
On the interior restoration side, “the simultaneous cleaning of the walls, painted decorations and vaults (with a total area of 42,000 m2) will be completed and the scaffolding will be gradually dismantled,” this source added.
“In the last quarter of 2024”, once the “installation of the technical networks in the ground” and the final interior restorations are completed, the cathedral will be ready to welcome its brand new liturgical furniture in dark brown bronze, simple and solid. as well as 1,500 openwork designer chairs made of solid oak.
The reopening of the cathedral is still scheduled for December 8, 2024, after the Paris Olympics in the summer, as Emmanuel Macron confirmed at the national tribute at the end of August to General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who led the construction site and is through one this summer died in an accident. His successor was his right-hand man, the senior official Philippe Jost.
A masterpiece of Gothic art admired worldwide, Notre-Dame de Paris welcomed an average of 12 million visitors each year before the fire, 2,500 church services and 150 concerts.