extraction, cleaning, pruning… how the cathedral regained its initial blondness

Croix-Huyart quarry, in Oise. The stone blocks are extracted using a shearer (large saw). In the 12th and 13th centuries, the shell limestone of Notre-Dame came from Parisian quarries, which have since been filled in. Geological analysis work made it possible to choose this quarry, whose stone presents the same qualities, to restore Notre-Dame.

The spectacular dusting of the nave is underway in spring 2022. This involves ridding the interior walls of their thick layer of dust, sometimes accumulated for centuries, with powerful vacuum cleaners. Lead dust emanating from the melting of the roof during the fire also condensed there.

To remove the last remaining dirt embedded in the stone, a latex coating was applied and then torn off, like a “beauty mask” for the cathedral, which thus regained all its glory.

On certain sculpted decorations – here in the south transept – traces of ancient polychromy have been found. A patina is applied to blur the color differences with certain joints redone using a mortar that is too gray, during a previous restoration.

Fixing a chimera with dowel and lime mortar requires a lot of precision. This was imagined and sculpted in the spirit of the neo-Gothic decor desired by Viollet-le-Duc. Indeed, even before the fire, his face, worn by bad weather, had become illegible.

On the balcony of the south belfry, companions are carrying out finishing touches around the gargoyles and the four large chimeras which replace those from the 19th century, which were too damaged. In the foreground, the famous statue known as the Alchemist, inspired by the myth of the wandering Jew.

By collapsing on itself, the spire pierced the central vault, creating a “chimney” which sucked in flames and smoke and undoubtedly prevented the fire from spreading throughout the cathedral. This hole was also used to pass the scaffolding to rebuild the spire.

In the winter of 2022, on wooden hangers, the masons-stonecutters finish laying the blocks of the four diagonal arches. These will form the framework of the vault. They join in a ring, the zenithal oculus, which acts as a keystone.

In the spring of 2024, the masons will install the last blocks and joints of the vaults which fill the space between the arches of the vault. The wound is finally closed after two other, smaller holes in the vaults of the north transept.

Thanks to a model that was spared by the fire, four angel heads were recut in Notre-Dame itself, in a sculptors’ lodge. They will surround the zenith oculus.

In June 2024, the gilders place gold leaf on the four angels adorning the cardinal points of the keystone. Here, the one facing the choir.