The Notre-Dame de France cathedral finally secured. Next: rebuild

PARIS – Notre-Dame de France Cathedral is finally stable and secure enough for artisans to start rebuilding it, more than two years after the shocking fire that ravaged its roof, toppled its spire and threatened to bring down the rest of the medieval monument, too.

The government agency overseeing the reconstruction announced in a statement on Saturday that the work to secure the structure – which began the day after the fire on April 15, 2019 – has finally been completed.

Carpenters, scaffolding experts, professional climbers, organ mechanics and others joined in the effort, which included special temporary structures to secure the towers, vaults and iconic walls of the enormous structure. without a roof, and a special “umbrella” to protect it from the elements.

Negotiations will now begin with companies willing to participate in the gigantic reconstruction effort, the statement said. It will include around 100 different calls for tenders for various projects. Restoration work on the organ will begin in the fall and further work should begin in winter.

The agency is upholding President Emmanuel Macron’s goal of allowing visitors to return indoors in 2024, the year Paris hosts the Olympics.

The announcement was made on a weekend that France and countries in Europe are celebrating Heritage Days, when historic monuments, government buildings and other sites are open to the public.