It carries within it the memories of historical exploits. The bell for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which rang fervently at the Stade de France after the victories of champions from around the world, was installed this Thursday at Notre-Dame de Paris. It was Antoine Dupont – with the victory of the French team in rugby sevens – who had the honor of striking this object for the first time last July, launching the festivities of a magical summer.
This unique bell will not be the only one to take its place in the building since other smaller “classic” bells are also there. These three imposing bronze sculptures were made by the historic Cornille Havard foundry in Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny, in Manche. This traditional house had already had the heavy responsibility of restoring the eight bells of Notre-Dame De Paris since July 2023.
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The date of November 7 was not chosen at random for the installation of this Olympic symbol in the cathedral since in one month to the day, the latter will reopen its doors five years after the fire which ravaged the Parisian monument. “ Notre-Dame will welcome three new bells, including the Paris 2024 bell installed this summer at the Stade de France,” we read in a press release. “The bell offered by the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the cathedral is a strong symbol and a material legacy of this universal, historic and unifying event which marked the year 2024,” it is further written.
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Tony Estanguet resumes his chef costume
For the occasion, Tony Estanguet resumed his role as head of Paris 2024 this Thursday morning, welcoming the bell on the square in front of Notre-Dame in the company of Monseigneur Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector of the cathedral. As soon as it reopens, visitors will be able to hear the bells ringing “every day, several times a day”.
To allow the restoration of the north tower, damaged by the flames of the giant fire of April 15, 2019, eight bells bearing the names of personalities who have marked the life of the diocese and the Church were removed in July 2023. They have since been cleaned of lead dust, serviced and restored before being reinstalled. Founded in 2013 to mark the 850th anniversary of the cathedral, they are part of a set of twenty bells in the cathedral, including the two bells in the south tower.
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