Representatives of the Saint-Flour Cathedral (Cantal) welcomed Wednesday the decision of Minister of Culture Rachida Dati to authorize the continuation of the maturing of hams within the building.
“We are delighted, it's a win-win. The controversy is over and we will now see how to harmonize all of this with the prefect and the Drac” (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs), Daniel Blanquet told AFP, treasurer of the association “Les Amis de la Cathédrale”.
The experiment began in 2022, at the initiative of the rector at the time, who proposed refining hams in the monument to finance the restoration of the choir organ.
Since then, nearly 300 pieces of “Florus Solatium” have been refined in the north tower of the cathedral, near the bells at an altitude of 910 m, some of which have been sold to starred restaurants and even to the Elysée.
“We buy them when they are eight months old, then they are matured for four months in optimal storage conditions,” describes Mr. Blanquet.
But the architect of the buildings of France and the Drac feared that the experiment would damage the building, in particular by damaging the floor with grease stains.
Minister Rachida Dati finally made a decision on October 30 and asked in a press release “the prefect of Cantal to examine the modalities which would allow, in complete safety and while respecting the conservation of heritage, to renew this experiment in refining ham in the cathedral of Saint-Flour.
“We thank the minister. There is a double meaning: at the same time this money makes it possible to restore and maintain the cathedral but it is also a recognition of the Church of the rural world and of an entire sector”, welcomed for his part, the rector of the cathedral Jean-Paul Rolland, according to whom the Saint-Flour cathedral is the only monument of this type to house the curing of hams.
Now “we are overwhelmed and orders are even arriving from abroad but customers will have to wait until January to be served,” says Mr. Blanquet.
The operation, which brought in around 16,000 euros, made it possible to participate in the restoration of the organ and to partly finance the maintenance of the building.
The Editorial Team (with AFP)
