The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris, better known as Notre Dame, reopened this past weekend following a remarkably fast five year restoration, during a world-wide pandemic which slowed construction, to bring it back to its glory from a destructive fire that ruined the whole roof and collapsed many of the vaults. A magnificent wonder of medieval architecture its construction was started in1163, and completed in 1345, it was one of the most visited structures in the world. It is considered the geographic center of France from which the road system is numbered. But, it is more, as even highly secular France saw the need for its restoration as it symbolizes the country, and a Christian past, more than any other landmark, including the Eiffel Tower.
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Restored Interior Source: BBC |
This symbolism goes back to the medieval era, when cities and towns vied with each other for cathedrals or basilicas for the greater glory of God and the church. As French author Bernard-Henry Levi wrote at the time of the fire about the Cathedral-- (Notre Dame is) "the France of the Resistance, of Europe, and literature. It's the Gothic holiness and the softness of the Seine. Faith and beauty. Aragon and Hugo. This morning, in the face of the gigantic fire? Hugo said: 'time is the architect but the people are the mason'." The Eiffel Tower lacks the history of Notre Dame in the events it has held over the years. From its significant destruction during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, Napoleon crowning himself, or its bells ringing as it was freed from German occupation, it has seen destruction and restoration over the centuries. While under the control of the French government it is still a religious place of worship, and for its significance, both religious and secular to be recognized in France of today says something of its draw to the population. It is a reminder to us of the power that buildings have in our world.
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Front of Notre Dame, Nov 2024 Source: AP
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Structures represent ideas and provide a sense of the tangible to concepts that lack physicality, the ability to touch. The attack on the US Capitol on 6 Jan 2021 is not so much about the building being violated by rioters, but rather by the attack on the idea of the three branches of a democratic-republic form of government of the United States set forth in the Constitution. Tangibility is also why people do not wish to see a parish, sometimes in their family for generations, closed. The parish church is representative of the values they hold, or held to their heart. It is a reminder of what were once often key events in a persons life--baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals.
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Western Rose Window Source: AP |
Buildings are part of human nature. We make them, we destroy them, we restore some of them. They are part of our being and an expression of our values. Noted geographer Yi-Fu Tuan once wrote that space becomes place when we endow it with value. Buildings become place by the memories they bring forth, by what we treasure from them. As secular as the French, and the west, may be, they still recognize the importance this structure plays as place. Place is embodied in the building, or site, but it is the values that are expressed that create the place.
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Archbishop of Paris Knocking for doors to be opened Ritual where the Bishop takes hold of the Cathedral |
Places do not have to be buildings, but as buildings go, this is a wonder. From its large stain glass windows, made possible at the time by building innovations such as flying buttresses and the rib vault, to the works of art contained within. It original roof was referred to as "The Forest" for each of its over 1,000 beams was from a single oak tree in France (in the 12th century sourced from a then 52 acre woods). Its restoration using oak was remarkable, due to a couple factors. First, an intense study of the roof structure for a university thesis which detailed the structure, followed by laser 3-d imaging. Second, as the forest preservation work of the country of France that allowed straight knot free oak to be once again obtained. Cut down and hued by hand, the forest was restoration followed the same old joinery techniques. Today, the forest was replicated often using similar techniques. One thousand trees for the roof, and another 1,000 for the recreated spire.
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Baptismal Font, present time design Source: AP |
For its restoration CNN, writing on Dec 5, found similarity of numbers: "After more than 2,000 days’ work – involving 2,000 people, 2,000 oak trees and 2,000 features restored or rebuilt – the world got its first glimpse of “Our Lady of Paris” last week...." The chief architect for the Cathedral has said he first thought the five year time frame could be met when he saw the decent condition of the windows, and the organ. Interestingly, some new stain glass windows will be installed in 2026, representing images of Pentecost. The new windows, opposed by the Historical Commission, were apparently first suggested by the Archbishop as a manner to reflect the restoration, and that suggestion was accepted by the French President. Some sources say it was President Macron who first suggested some new windows, so I am not sure what is authoritative in the instance.
The fire brought to the fore abilities lost in a time where computers now take the duty of where and how to guide a saw to cut wood. The beams were hewed by hand, and cut by hand. Every stone, every piece of tile was inspected and cleaned. Some stone, marble and tile replaced. A great deal of tuck pointing occurred. Man of the famous gargoyles, which actually date from the 18th century, are new. More than 1,000 works of art were cleaned. Matching and comparable Lutetian limestone had to be found to match the original stone quarried in and around Paris during the original construction. The stone for restoration was sourced from France’s Oise region and cut in Gennevilliers. Barges were used to float the stones down the Seine to near the Cathedral.
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Evening of Dec 7, right before Reopening Ceremony Source: NBC
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Back in 1990 when my wife and I visited the Sistine Chapel a major cleaning and restoration had just been completed of what is perhaps the most famous artwork in the world--Michelangelo's frescoes. Drawing controversy, including our tour guide, who said it went too far with its bright and vibrant colors, the thought was that bright colors were not possible at the time. The same claim has been made about the cleaning of not only Notre Dame's art, but its stone and tiles. Hundreds of years of candle soot and air pollution darkened the works of art (paintings here, frescoes in the Sistine Chapel) the stone and marble. For some reason, perhaps relating to modern negative views of the medieval era, people seem to think that everything was dark and bleak. But, they did have vibrant colors and the masters used it well. I think our tour guide and those who complain about Notre Dame need to take a deep breath and appreciate what was done hundreds of years past. People complain the whole of Notre Dame is now too clean, gone are the dark tones to which they had become familiar, replaced with a majesty that takes its rightful place for the French. It is once again anticipated to be one of the most visited buildings in the world, as they now anticipate 15 million people a year to visit.
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Contrast Apr 2019 to Nov 2024 Source: AP |
The Cathedral, owned by the government was falling into a state of disrepair, and it has now been transformed, but beyond that there are some positives first, a thousand works of art buried below the floor have been recovered, a task of digging the floor out would not have occurred without the fire. No one has explained how they got there, perhaps it was during the reign of terror. Second, the fire has allowed, with the restoration new smoke and fire detectors and some suppression systems to be put in place, particularly in its new forest. Third, it has seen a revival of old masonry, woodworking, stain glass and other crafts, yet bonding old with the new.
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Ceiling Source: Notre Dame de Paris |
The restoration is not inexpensive, I have seen varied cost estimates from $737 million to near $1 billion. The funds have been privately sourced from people the world over. But, lets put cost into perspective: the football stadium in Los Angles for the Rams and Chargers, completed a few years ago, cost over $5 billion. Granted, this is not as large, and is not a fully new structure, but, on the other hand, it is 860 years old. I doubt So-Fi stadium will last even 75 years. Every stone, every joint had to be cleaned and inspected, and if doubtful replaced. The new religion of the United States is sports, as can be seen by the value to construct new sport stadiums; remember space becomes place due to our values. Then there is the destructiveness of war. Conflicts go against the beauty and majesty of Notre Dame and what it has represented for most of its 860 years than war. The United States has contributed, depending upon source, over $89 billion to $183 billion to Ukraine for its war with Russia. This does not include money from other countries, mostly in Europe, to Ukraine. As of March 2024, Western Countries have pledged over $380 billion, mainly military aid, to Ukraine. As for Notre Dame, people from over 150 countries have donated 846 million Euros to its restoration.
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Ukraine War, US contributions Source: Ukraine Oversight |
Is the cost of preserving a United Nations World Heritage site worth it? I would have to say yes. The world would be a different place without Notre Dame, after all it drew 12 million visitors a year before the fire. People are attracted to see that building. France would lose part of its tie to a historical past that helped frame the country, if it were gone. If the US Capitol, or the state capitol were damaged by fire, I like to think they would be restored. If hundreds of billions of dollars can be spent on destruction and mayhem of war, is a billion so bad for a building that represents a nation's soul? France watched as the bells were put back in the north tower. People awed at the use of the largest crane in Europe placing the new spire, reconstructed like the one built in the 1800's, put back in place. The sad emotions expressed at seeing the fire in April 2019 is now replaced with admiration at what masons, woodworkers, architects, artisans, and other contractors have been able to undertake in such a short span of time. The original builders would look in wonder at the new construction methods, cranes over windlasses, computers over rulers and triangles. The original construction was a mark of human achievement, to be undertaken, and rebuild a knowledge base of the original methods is also a marked achievement. I have to think the original workers would be pleased to see Our Lady of Paris smiling once again. The smile of Our Lady produces a light within a world darkened by war. Such glorious structures mark a measure of human achievement and like Our Lady, we all can do with some good news.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
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Nov 15, 2024 Our Lady of Paris Statue being returned to the Cathedral, as 1,000's joined and watched. Spared by the fire, even though surrounded by rubble. Source: NBC |