After more than 400 firefighters mobilized to save Notre-Dame de Paris from the fire, its reconstruction, over five years, mobilized an impressive number of people: 250 companies, 2 craftsmen. But it is also thanks to the 000 donors from 340 countries that the reconstruction of the cathedral was able to be carried out in a short period of time.
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Maurice de Sully (1120-1196) : Bishop of Paris from 1160 to 1196, was the driving force behind the construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, having laid the first stone of the site in 1163. His ambitious project aimed to replace the old Romanesque cathedral, thus responding to the demographic and spiritual growth of Paris while marking the beginning of a new architectural era with the emergence of the Gothic style.
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Louis VII (1120-1180): This king of France played a significant role in the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris by supporting the project initiated by Bishop Maurice de Sully, who wished to replace the old Romanesque cathedral. Present at the laying of the first stone in 1163, he helped to legitimize and finance this monumental undertaking, thus marking the beginning of an architectural work that would become emblematic of Parisian identity and the Gothic style.
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Robert de Cotte (1656-1735) : An 18th-century architect, he was commissioned by Louis XIV to carry out major renovations to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris between 1708 and 1725, marking one of the most significant alterations to the cathedral since the Middle Ages. Under his direction, key elements such as the medieval rood screen were demolished and replaced with a new high altar, while major renovations were made to the vaults and roof structure, helping to redefine the interior of this iconic monument.
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Napoleon I (1769-1821): The emperor chose Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to celebrate his coronation on December 2, 1804, marking a symbolic turning point in French history by crowning himself—a decision that broke with established monarchical traditions. This grand ceremony, officiated by Pope Pius VII in the presence of dignitaries and military personnel, not only legitimized his imperial power but also cemented Notre-Dame as a central site in the political and religious history of France.
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Victor Hugo (1802-1885) : Through his iconic novel Notre-Dame de Paris, published in 1831, the writer played a pivotal role in elevating the cathedral, presenting it as a symbol of the Parisian soul and Gothic architecture. His work not only captivated readers with the tragic story of Quasimodo and Esmeralda, but it also sparked a preservation movement that led to the cathedral's restoration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-19th century, reinforcing Notre-Dame's cultural and historical significance.
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Esmeralda and Quasimodo are emblematic characters from Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris . Esmeralda is a young gypsy girl whose bewitching beauty arouses the desires of men and symbolizes purity and innocence. In the story, she dances on the cathedral steps and becomes the heart of a tragedy where her fate is inextricably linked to the one who loves her desperately: Quasimodo, the bell ringer.
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Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879): A 19th-century architect, he played a pivotal role in the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris between 1844 and 1864, restoring the cathedral to its former glory after decades of decline. His iconic reconstruction of the spire, inspired by medieval models, not only saved the monument from destruction but also shaped our modern image of Notre-Dame, incorporating artistic and architectural elements that have fueled debates about the authenticity of his restoration.
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Emmanuel Macron : The President of the French Republic promised to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris within an ambitious five-year timeframe, starting the evening of the fire on April 15, 2019. This promise was reaffirmed in several public addresses, emphasizing his commitment to mobilizing resources and talent to restore the cathedral, with the goal of reopening it in 2024. Despite initial challenges and expressed doubts, his promise was kept with the reopening on December 8, 2024, just over five years after the fire, making this restoration a symbol of the determination and national unity that the President wished to highlight.
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Renaud Capuçon , the violinist, embarked on a tour of French cathedrals in the autumn of 2019, visiting Chartres, Lyon, Reims, Amiens, and Bordeaux, as well as the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, to raise funds for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris after the fire. His artistic contribution was part of the wave of national solidarity that followed the disaster, and he has now been confirmed to participate in the grand reopening concert of the cathedral on December 7, 2024.
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Gautier Capuçon , the cellist, brought some comfort by playing Gabriel Fauré's "Après un rêve" in front of Notre-Dame de Paris the day after the fire of April 15, 2019. His commitment to the cathedral will continue at the reopening ceremony on December 7, 2024, which he says he is "honored" to participate in to celebrate the rebirth of this iconic monument through music.
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Ken Follett , the Welsh author famous for his medieval epic The Pillars of the Earth , writes about cathedrals with rare intensity. Passionate about their construction and symbolism, he weaves human drama and architectural detail into his stories, paying homage to these monuments as mirrors of society. Following the Notre-Dame fire in 2019, which reaffirmed his deep connection to this iconic building, Ken Follett wrote Notre-Dame, a book published by Robert Laffont, with proceeds going towards the restoration of French heritage.
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Philippe Villeneuve : Chief Architect of Historic Monuments, responsible for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris since 2013, he supervised the entire reconstruction project after the 2019 fire. His commitment and passion for the cathedral resulted in rigorous project management, aiming to restore the monument to its authenticity while respecting the ambitious deadlines set for its reopening.
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Jean-Louis Georgelin (1948-2023) : This general, appointed by Emmanuel Macron in April 2019 to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris, led this monumental project with rigor and determination until his accidental death in the mountains on August 18, 2023. Known for his strong work ethic and direct approach, he played a crucial role in coordinating the various trades involved in the restoration, ensuring that the ambitious goal of reopening in December 2024 was met.
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Rémy and Loïc Desmonts, the former a carpenter for 45 years, specializing in the restoration of historical monuments, selected the trees for the new framework, while his son Loïc directed the project, manufactured the specific tools and supervised the transformation of these more than 1000 oak trees into beams used in particular for the framework of the nave, according to medieval techniques.
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Jackson DuBois : This director of the Timber Framers Guild, a professional group dedicated to promoting the carpentry trade, came from the United States to participate in the reconstruction of the iconic spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, working alongside French carpenters from the Asselin company. He describes this experience as the "pinnacle of his career," emphasizing the profound enrichment he gained from collaborating with the various trades and the warm welcome he received from the local community.
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Jean-Michel Guilment , project manager for the reconstruction at the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Île-de-France, was a key player in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris after the 2019 fire, overseeing the securing of the cathedral and coordinating the initial urgent stages of the project. His role involved defining the specifications, assessing needs and budget, establishing a preliminary schedule, and managing crucial operations such as making the cathedral watertight in just five days and securing the gables and statues at risk.
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Will Gusakov , a member of Carpenters Without Borders, this American carpenter from Vermont joined the Desmonts Workshops team in France for six months in 2023 to participate in the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral's roof frame, contributing his expertise in traditional carpentry techniques. Responsible for the design of the nave's main trusses, he described the experience as "better than a dream," emphasizing the importance of this extraordinary project, which required more than 1000 century-old oak trees to rebuild the nave and choir using time-honored methods.
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Philippe Jost : President of the public establishment Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris, he played a crucial role in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, having been appointed to head the project after the death of General Jean-Louis Georgelin in August 2023. He successfully completed this "project of the century" and fulfilled President Emmanuel Macron's promise to reopen the cathedral in December 2024.
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Patrick Jouenne : MOF (Best Craftsman of France) carpenter, team leader for the spire reconstruction, coordinated 40 craftsmen. Appointed deputy director general of the public establishment Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris in December 2019, he was chosen to assist Philippe Jost.
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Lou Karoui : Initially a graduate of an agricultural engineering school, she became an apprentice carpenter at the Desmonts Workshops. She contributed to the preparation of the technical report for the call for tenders for the reconstruction of the Gothic roof frames and was responsible, in collaboration with the National Forestry Office, for monitoring the supply of wood for the nave and choir of the cathedral.
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Catherine Lavier : A specialist in wood archaeology at the French Museums' Research and Restoration Center, she has applied her expertise to the analysis of the remains of the cathedral's historic timber frame. By examining the charred pieces of this "forest," she has been able to extract valuable information about the wood's origin, species, and medieval construction techniques, thus contributing to the understanding of the cathedral's history and medieval building practices.
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Lise Leroux : Stone specialist engineer at the Historical Monuments Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Culture. She was called in to assess the condition of the cathedral's stones at Notre-Dame de Paris.
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Stefan Lücking : A German stained-glass artist based in Borchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, he meticulously restored two 72-square-meter stained-glass windows between the summer of 2022 and September 2024. With his partner Stephan Lübbers, he spent countless hours cleaning the fire-blackened glass, gluing the pieces broken during dismantling, and reinstalling the frames, thus helping to restore the cathedral's stained-glass treasures to their former glory.
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Mathieu Delaire , a rope access technician with the Jarnias company, played a crucial role in securing and consolidating Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the 2019 fire, working in areas inaccessible to other trades. A former soldier who served in Kosovo, Gabon, Afghanistan, and Mali, he brought his precision, rigor, and discipline to the cathedral's restoration, participating in delicate tasks such as preparing the gargoyles to be made watertight, covering the nave with tarpaulins, and taking photographic records of the damaged vaults.
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Matteo Pellegrino : A carpenter specializing in axe work at the Perrault Workshops, he participated in the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame de Paris roof frame as head of squaring, using medieval techniques to shape the beams. He contributed to the meticulous selection of trees and their transformation into beams, ensuring adherence to ancestral methods to faithfully recreate the 13th-century roof frame, notably by using traditional tools such as the "doule" (a type of axe) for manual squaring.
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Hank Silver : A stonemason originally from the United States, he contributed to the restoration of the vaults and flying buttresses of Notre-Dame de Paris, bringing his expertise in traditional construction techniques. Joining the restoration team, he worked on the rehabilitation of these essential architectural elements, ensuring the preservation of the cathedral's historical integrity while using artisanal methods appropriate to medieval heritage.
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Arnaud Timbert : Professor of Medieval Art History, he has made a significant contribution to the discussion surrounding the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, notably through his lectures and publications on 19th-century restoration projects. As part of the "Notre-Dame Through the Centuries" lecture series organized by the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, he presented an in-depth analysis of Viollet-le-Duc's restoration practices, demonstrating the importance of a respectful and thoughtful approach to the restoration of historical monuments.
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Michael Burrey , a carpenter and teacher at a vocational school in Boston, contributed to the Notre-Dame de Paris reconstruction project by sharing his expertise in traditional carpentry techniques. His skills enabled the restoration of essential elements of the cathedral, highlighting the importance of passing on artisanal skills in major heritage projects.
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Mathieu Delaire , a rope access technician with the Jarnias company, played a crucial role in securing and reinforcing Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the 2019 fire, working in areas inaccessible to other trades. A former soldier who served in Kosovo, Gabon, Afghanistan, and Mali, he brought his precision, rigor, and discipline to the cathedral's restoration, participating in delicate tasks such as preparing the gargoyles to be made watertight, covering the nave with tarpaulins, and taking photographic records of the damaged vaults.
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Isabelle Baudoin, a master glassmaker based in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, was commissioned to restore four stained-glass windows located on the south side of Notre-Dame, at the crossing of the transept and the choir. This represented delicate work on 19th-century stained glass that had never been restored. Her mission, which spanned from 2022 to 2023, consisted of cleaning, decontaminating, and consolidating the panes damaged by soot and the heat of the 2019 fire, using precise restoration techniques.
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Guillaume Bardet , a French designer and sculptor and graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, was chosen in 2023 to create the new liturgical furnishings for the cathedral. His project, which includes five key bronze elements – the altar, the cathedra and its associated seats, the ambo, the tabernacle, and the baptistery – is distinguished by a powerful and timeless aesthetic, designed to integrate harmoniously into the sacred and majestic setting of the cathedral.
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Émile-Armand Benoit , a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) in roofing and ornamentation, played a crucial role in the restoration of Notre-Dame. He led the team responsible for installing the roof of the rebuilt spire and the metal ornaments that adorn it, more than 90 meters above the ground, thus transforming lead into elaborate decorations.
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Jean-Charles de Castelbajac , the French fashion designer, created the liturgical vestments and ornaments for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on December 7, 2024, dressing 700 members of the clergy. Inspired by the theme of light and radiance, he created pieces that combine simplicity and modernity, such as the archbishop's chasuble adorned with a golden cross with colorful flecks, symbolizing the vitality and dynamism of the Gospel. In 1997, he designed the rainbow liturgical vestments worn by Pope John Paul II, bishops, and priests during World Youth Day.
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Romain Gubert : A journalist at Le Point magazine, he co-authored, with the Paris Fire Brigade, * The Night of Notre-Dame by Those Who Saved It*, a book about the Notre-Dame de Paris fire. This work served as inspiration for the Netflix series * Notre Dame, the Part of the Fire *, which offers a fictionalized and choral perspective on the event, blending the firefighters' accounts with those of fictional characters who were present around the cathedral during the blaze.
Text: Katia Barillot
06.12.24
