Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is set to reopen in 2024
Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is set to reopen to worshipers and the public in 2024, according to Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak’s statement Thursday, nearly three years after the devastating fire. In the statement, she noted that the cleanup phase of the restoration project is now complete, allowing reconstruction work to begin. The 12th century cathedral is being restored to its previous design, including the 96-metre spire designed by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-1800s, for which new timbers have been selected.
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We are convinced that 2024 will be the year in which much of this work is completed, the year in which the cathedral will reopen to the faithful and the public. – Abdul Malak, during the site visit
In the April 15 fire, the scaffolding built for the restoration survived the spire collapse but was deformed by the heat of the fire and ended up resting directly on the vaults, putting them at risk. In order for the restoration to proceed, the compromised scaffolding had to be removed, a complex project that required careful preparation due to its structural instability. After removing the debris, the cathedral was reinforced with wooden frames and braces were built to support the buttresses.
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The project and the complex site are led by General Jean-Louis Georgelin, appointed by the French President, with the chief architect Philippe Villeneuve. During the securing phase of the restoration process, the stained glass windows, treasury, stalls, statuary, decor and light fixtures have been removed and are being restored, while the three rose windows on the facades are being restored. catering on site. The windows are expected to be installed again by spring 2023.
In parallel with the ongoing restoration work at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, the city of Paris has launched an architectural competition to redevelop the area around the cathedral. The winning project by landscape designer Bas Smets will reinvent the square and the underground car parks that underlie it, including the archaeological crypt, the Place Jean XXIII located behind the cathedral, the banks of the Seine and the adjacent streets.
