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The wooden framework of Notre Dame Cathedral is primarily oak, containing beams that date back quite a while. For example, the first frame built for the cathedral was made from trees felled sometime between 1160 and 1170, forming one of the oldest structural frameworks in the cathedral.
According to the Notre Dame website, most of the framework was reinforced in 1220. Meanwhile, the modern framework, a second layer, reflects adjustments made earlier in the cathedral's construction. These frameworks are very large, measuring 100 meters in length and 10 meters in height. In the nave, the framework is 13 meters wide, and the transept is 10 meters high.
During the Middle Ages, carpenters constructed the initial framework on the ground to achieve those precise dimensions and structure. Later, workers would dismantle this framework and lift it using lifting equipment to the ceiling – where the framework would be reassembled. Once in place, these beams would open up a 55-degree view towards the horizon.
The prevailing architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral is in the Gothic style with high vaulted ceilings. To suit this design and construction style, the cathedral required tall, sturdy oak trees from a nearby forest for reinforcement, facilitating construction.
The project was then launched using 21 hectares of oak timber. Each beam of the intricately cross-sectioned wooden "work" was made from a different tree, so it is estimated that a total of 13,000 trees were used in the construction of the cathedral's interior. To achieve the high quality required by the carpenters to support the cathedral's massive structure, the oak trees selected were all between 300 and 400 years old, meaning they were planted around the eighth or ninth century.
The wood used to make the wooden frame is from trees that are approximately 300 or 400 years old.
This wooden frame structure served as a support for the roof – made of lead and weighing 210 tons. The lead frame has the advantage of being fire-resistant, according to the French National Library. However, the wood supporting the lead roof is highly flammable due to its large surface area; therefore, after the fire on the night of April 15th, it is likely that all the valuable oak wood inside the cathedral was completely destroyed.
