DayFR Euro

Five facts to know about the rebirth of the cathedral

Eight days before the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Emmanuel Macron is on the construction site. The visit of the Head of State should make it possible to highlight all those who worked on the site of the renovation of the building. It is an opportunity to show the first official images of its rehabilitation, presented by 20 Minutes in five large figures.

5

The number of years necessary to carry out the work and allow the cathedral to rise from its ashes, since the fire of April 15, 2019. Emmanuel Macron had committed to rebuilding the building within this deadline, a promise then welcomed with a lot of skepticism. Many people thought the challenge impossible. This “project of the century” constituted a “challenge that many considered senseless and that we will meet this December 7,” relishes the Head of State in a press release distributed to the editorial staff.

93

In meters, the height of the cathedral spire. After bitter debates, Emmanuel Macron decided to rebuild a new spire, identical to the one that collapsed during the fire of April 2019. It was therefore by following Jean's plans to the letter -Baptiste Antoine Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, that the spire was rebuilt, exactly similar to the one inaugurated on August 15, 1859. The previous spire erected in the 13th century and very weakened over the centuries, had been dismantled after the Revolution, between 1793 and 1797.

2.000

The number of people who have worked on the Notre-Dame construction site since the fire, the causes of which are still not known. 1,300 of them should be present this Friday, according to the Elysée. During his stroll, Emmanuel Macron must make ten stops which correspond to the ten key locations of the work. From the square and its limestone paving made by Bas Smets, to the organ, the largest in with its 8,000 pipes, through the new framework, the previous one, the forest which dated from the Middle Ages, having was completely calcined.

By clicking on“I accept”you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners.

More information on the Cookie management policy page

I accept

350.000

The number of donors who participated in the reconstruction of the building. Since 1905 and the law of separation of State and Church, the State has owned religious buildings in France and, as such, their maintenance. However, the restoration of Notre-Dame was not financed by public funds, but solely by private funds. The State quickly put in place a very attractive tax reduction system for businesses and individuals, in order to encourage donations. These came from all over the world.

The Pinault family, founder of Kering, the Arnault family, owner of LVMH, the Total Energies Foundation and the Bettencourt family, largest shareholder of L'Oréal, contributed the majority to this fund. But solidarity was much broader with thousands of small donors. The Notre-Dame Foundation alone collected 358 million euros with an average donation from individuals of 236 euros.

Our file on Notre-Dame de

836 millions

In euros, the amount collected from companies and individuals to finance the reconstruction of Notre-Dame. This is more than the cost of the work, estimated at 700 million euros. So, what will the surplus be used for? Elected officials and architects have pleaded for using it to restore other religious buildings in danger. Finally, the Elysée decided: the money collected for Notre-Dame will be used for Notre-Dame. It will be used to finance other renovation projects on the exterior parts of the building: the flying buttresses of the nave and the choir, in particular.

-

Related News :