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After a period of structural stabilization and safety maintenance, along with months of work disruption caused by the pandemic, all the burnt timber on the roof has been removed and thousands of burnt-out scaffolding structures inside the cathedral have been replaced.
The state agency in charge of the Notre Dame Cathedral construction project said the final stage in the effort to secure the cathedral's structure includes reinforcing the fire-damaged vaults with wooden arches. The cathedral will be restored to its original state, including the 96-meter-high spire designed by architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-1800s.
Based on current progress, France has confirmed that the cathedral will be ready to reopen in 2024.
The reconstruction using timber requires a long search for centuries-old oak trees in French forests: an estimated 1,500 trees are needed. After being felled, the tree trunks, once of a defined size, must be dried for 12 to 19 months before they can be used. Currently, around 1,000 trees have been collected, and the remainder will be felled in March 2022.
To show respect for the heritage structure in the "joint effort to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral," the Catholic University of America created a model of one of the cathedral's old-style trusses using medieval techniques.
Restoration work is expected to begin in the coming months following a bidding process to select the company responsible for the project. Prior to that, cleaning activities inside the cathedral will be carried out this month.
Notre Dame Cathedral – a symbol of France known to many around the world through the literary work "Notre Dame de Paris" by the French writer Victor Hugo, later adapted into a film and a musical, performed many times under the famous name "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
Built in the 12th century, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of France's most famous cultural symbols, boasting a magnificent and imposing Gothic architecture. Over nine centuries, through the ups and downs of French history, this structure has become a source of pride for the French people. The fire that occurred in April 2019 shocked the French people and the world as they witnessed this great symbol engulfed in flames.
