The famous spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, destroyed in the fire of the cathedral in April 2019, is expected to rise above the building before the end of 2023. This reconstruction is the result of a long project.
According to the public body in charge of overseeing the reconstruction project, the “familiar silhouette” of the spire of Notre-Dame, devastated by a fire in 2019, will be visible in the Paris sky “before Christmas”. The work on the structure or massive oak wood frame of the spire should be completed in December, with the familiar silhouette expected to rise to 96 meters from the ground again before Christmas.
The spire, identical to the previous one designed by the 19th century architect Viollet-le-Duc, which had collapsed in the fire of April 15, 2019, will however remain surrounded by the scaffolding that was used for the assembly of this structure. The scaffolding “will be used for installing its lead covering and ornaments in 2024,” the organization added. Additionally, “the assembly of the frames of the nave and the choir of the cathedral, which also collapsed in the fire, will be completed in early 2024, at which point the installation of their covering can begin.”
In terms of interior restoration, “the simultaneous cleaning of the walls, painted decorations, and vaults, with a total area of 42,000 square meters, is coming to an end. The scaffolding is being dismantled as work progresses,” the source added. By the last quarter of 2024, once the “installation of technical networks in the ground” and the final interior restorations are completed, the cathedral will be ready to receive its brand new dark bronze liturgical furniture, as well as 1,500 openwork solid oak chairs.
The reopening of the cathedral is still scheduled for December 8, 2024, after the Paris Olympics in the summer, as confirmed by Emmanuel Macron during the national tribute paid at the end of August to General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who was in charge of the reconstruction project and passed away accidentally this summer. His right-hand man, senior official Philippe Jost, has since taken over. A masterpiece of Gothic art admired worldwide, Notre-Dame de Paris welcomed an average of 12 million visitors each year before the fire, along with 2,500 religious services and 150 concerts.
