Notre-Dame de Paris will find “its liturgical service definitively” in 2024, promises Jean-Louis Georgelin
Jean-Louis Georgelin, responsible for the conservation and restoration of Our Lady of Paris, was the guest of the morning of Classic Radio. Despite the Covid, the lead and the threat of power cuts, he assures that the reconstruction is going well.
Power cuts did not generate the construction site, according to Jean-Louis Georgelin
Since the fire of Our Lady of Paris on April 15, 2019, a project has been set up to restore the building in 5 years, i.e. in 2024. Jean-Louis Georgelin chairs the public establishment for the conservation and restoration of the building. He explains that legal constraints related to lead and covid produce the conditions of access to the site for the workers – and also for himself – very complicated. Nevertheless, the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris “continue at the same pace, through winds and tides”, he promises. As for the hypothesis of Power cuts in January, “they could not justify a delay in reopening”he says, especially if they only last one or two hours each time.
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The general boasts the extremely rigorous planning of the construction site”more precisely of the reconstruction phase started in September 2021. In detail, the restoration of the transept [partie transversale d’une église] south is fully completed, he says, as is the first vault of the north transept. Workers are also working on the paintings and frescoes, which have been damaged by ” lead dust” projected during the drama. But all eyes are on the reconstruction of the spire of Our Lady, pendant destroyed the fire. To reach it, a 100-meter scaffolding is currently under construction.
The great organ of Our Lady has been dismantled, cleaned and will be reharmonized
Another centerpiece of the place is 8 pipe organ, “one of the most powerful in Europe if not the world”, according to Jean-Louis Georgelin. Damaged by lead, it was completely dismantled and sent to 3 organ builders : the return is scheduled for early 2023, before a long harmonization work that will last 6 months. The choir organ, smaller, with less chance, pursues the general. Reduced to dust, this instrument will be completely rebuilt, “even amplified” [avec de nouveaux tuyaux] according to him.
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Jean-Louis Georgelin adds that subsidiary works are being carried out to make the cathedral “absolutely superb” : it is for example a question of dusting off all the stained glass windows, “which have never been cleaned since Eugène Viollet-le-Duc [architecte de la cathédrale au 19ème siècle] posed them”. This initiative will “bringing light into the cathedral”, he enthuses. Extensive labors whose fruits are appearing “now quite spectacularly”with some “advanced that surpasses us with joy”, congratulates the general. If this pace continues, the cathedral could be returned to the archbishop in 2024 and “available for Catholic liturgical service on a permanent basis”, he assures. However, he wants to remain cautious: “the game is not yet won”.
Clement Kasser