REPORTING. Notre-Dame, “a link between yesterday and today” ideal for teaching history

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens its doors to the public this weekend, five and a half years after being ravaged by a fire. A historic event, which also interests young people. In the Parisian Catholic college of Assomption-Lubeck, the subject was discussed in class.

In the history-geography course at the Catholic college of Assomption-Lubec in Paris, we approach the Middle Ages around the theme “Society, Church and political power in the feudal West”. “The first stone of Notre-Dame de Paris was laid in 1 163 by the bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, explains the professor. Why are we talking about it especially today? ?”, she asks.

The students are all well aware of the reopening. These teenagers, in 5th grade today, were 7 years on the day of the fire. “I was upset,” remembers a boy who confides having “cry”. “I remember it was terribleechoes one of her classmates, because it is still a symbolic monument.” “It was a bit like the main church of France”is the first to agree.

“I remember seeing smoke. It was distressing to see it burning. It was very sad.”

A Parisian schoolgirl

at franceinfo

Today History meets current events, a boon for teacher Marion Odinot : “I think it's a chance they have to address this subject at the same time as the reopening of Notre-Dame. It makes things much more real. We could even say that Notre-Dame is a trait of union between yesterday and today.

The students are still amazed at the speed of the reconstruction. “I find it very impressive that they managed to rebuild it in just five years when it had been completely built in 100 years !“, underlines a student. “Before its fire, I had already gone to see Notre-Damesays a schoolboy. I would love to come back and see how things have changed.”

And that’s good, all these 5th grade students will be able to visit it, with their teachers, in March, “because it’s obviously on the program, and also because it’s an important moment to experience”explains Marion Odinot who speaks of “big chance” to his students : “You will have the opportunity to soak up the places, the light, the architecture, the rediscovered beauty“. This reopening is all the more significant for the college as it had made a donation for the reconstruction.