Notre Dame drops scaffolding 5 years after fire: timelapse of the cathedral's restoration

In the capital of France, the famous Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris is gradually getting rid of scaffolding - the restored tower is released, five years after a devastating fire. The restoration video shows many details of the complex restoration of one of the most famous symbols of the French capital, reports UNN with reference to The Associated Press.

Notre Dame is beginning to shed scaffolding, nearly five years after it was damaged by fire. - The news agency reports.

During the month, the gradual dismantling of parts of the scaffolding that concealed the top of the cathedral continues. The new spire, decorated with a golden rooster and a cross, is now visible. An important milestone in the restoration after the massive fire in April 2019 was the dismantling of the scaffolding.

The Associated Press offers a timelapsetaken from the terrace of La Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris, which captures the restoration and appearance of the cathedral's new spire.

Reference

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris (Notre-Dame de Paris) is a monument of Gothic architecture; the construction of the cathedral began in 1163 and lasted more than 180 years. The cathedral was completed in the middle of the 14th century. During the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between the French and the English, Paris, along with the cathedral, passed from one warring party to the other several times. It was at Notre Dame, in 1431, that King Henry VI of England was crowned French king.

During the French Revolution, anti-Christian extremists looted and severely damaged Notre Dame. Many unique sculptures, tombs and stained glass windows were destroyed. The cathedral was also turned into a food storage warehouse until 1802, when it was returned to the church and re-consecrated.  

In 1804, it hosted the coronation of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Victor Hugo's novel "The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris," published in 1831, forever cemented the cathedral's place in popular culture. The book, which was screened many times and also staged in theaters, described the unsatisfactory state in which the cathedral was then, which helped to organize large-scale restoration work in the middle of the XIX century.

Earlier it was known that the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ was kept in the cathedral: until 1063, one of the largest Christian relics was on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, from where it was transported to the palace of the Byzantine emperors in Constantinople. After the relic's long journey, it ended up in the treasury of Notre Dame de Paris.

The cathedral survived two world wars and remained almost unharmed. In August 1944, after the Allied landings in Normandy, Parisians revolted against the occupation, and French Resistance fighters clashed with German soldiers and collaborators near the cathedral.

Since the end of World War II, the cathedral has hosted farewell ceremonies for former presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand, and meetings with Vatican officials.  

On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris) in Paris. The flames collapsed the spire and destroyed the roof.

After the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the church within five years - which he is likely to achieve given the year. However, the anniversary of the fire is April 15.

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