Will Notre-Dame de Paris reopen in December 2024, as planned? For the moment, the project seems to be progressing well. The public establishment Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, in charge of the restoration of the building, announced on May 5, 2024 the completion of the ironwork work on the bedside cross.
Designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, this cross measures 12 meters high and weighs 1.5 tonnes. This is the only element of the choir roof that resisted the flames. However, it was damaged when it fell during the fire.
A restoration showcase of French know-how
The restoration work on the structure was carried out by the Fer art forge workshop, in Calvados. The craftsmen notably straightened the irons used to fix the cross in the frame and reworked the damaged patterns and ornaments of the work.
The restoration required significant know-how, since the cross is made of several materials: steel, copper, brass and lead. The craftsmen also had to use a wide variety of techniques to bring it back into shape, including forging, but also hammering and turning, and even embossing.
The cross must still receive its gilding before returning to its place about forty meters above the ground, at the top of the choir frame.
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