The Notre Dame Cathedral burned down a year ago, disputes over reconstruction

Paris/Prague - About a fifteen-hour fire that engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019, was watched in horror by the whole world. Immediately after the fire, plans began for the restoration of this iconic building in the heart of the French capital, including a fundraising campaign. However, there is still division regarding the design of the rebuilt destroyed spire.

The Parisian cathedral caught fire on the evening of April 15. By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze the following morning, the fire had destroyed the roof, the timber frame, and the spire from the 19th century, known as the "sancus." The flames also damaged parts of the vault and roofing. The interior of the cathedral was spared more serious damage thanks to the stone vault, which largely held the burning roof after it collapsed.

The devastating fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit or a poorly extinguished cigarette butt. According to investigators, the cathedral was not intentionally set on fire.

The day after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron promised that the cathedral, this masterpiece of Gothic architecture, would be restored within five years, and that it would be "even more beautiful." However, many experts believe this is too optimistic an estimate and speak more of a timeline of 10 to 15 years. A fundraising campaign was also initiated for the reconstruction, which raised more than a billion euros (27.2 billion CZK).

An international architectural competition was announced for the reconstruction of the destroyed spire, which was added to the cathedral during the 19th-century renovation. According to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, a unique design is being sought that is "adaptable to the technologies and challenges of our time." The fundamental question is whether to restore it to its original state or to choose sensitive innovation.

The first mass since the fire was held in the cathedral in June 2019. It was led by Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit. For security reasons, only about thirty people were allowed to attend. The ceremony took place in one of the side chapels, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which the fire spared.

Last July, it was announced that the cathedral was still not safe enough for reconstruction to begin. In September, work began on removing the damaged scaffolding that workers had put up around the iconic monument's spire before the fire. Thanks to its construction, which kept it completely away from the spire, the scaffolding did not collapse during the fire.

Architect Philippe Villeneuve, who is in charge of restoring the cathedral, has drafted a plan for the construction of new scaffolding that would surround the old one. Workers are cutting pipes "one by one."

After dismantling the damaged scaffolding, it will be possible to build a "protective umbrella" over the cathedral until the timber frame and then the roof are restored. What form it will take, however, is still unclear according to Villeneuve. Rescue work was halted some time ago due to the risks associated with lead that was released during the fire.

In November, there were disputes in France over whether the reconstruction should have a traditional or rather modern look. According to architect Villeneuve, the five-year deadline for the reconstruction set by President Macron could only be met if an exact replica of the spire were built. However, Macron reportedly leans toward the opinion that the reconstruction should be "modern."

Last December, for the first time in more than two hundred years, no Christmas midnight mass was held in the cathedral.