in 2028, a reconstruction of the framework

Notre-Dame de Paris, again?! The saga of the restoration of our famous cathedral seems never to end. Or rather, it experiences new seasons, with sometimes surprising twists and turns. Thus, on October 13, 2025, the Restarons Notre-Dame association, which has brought together lovers of the cathedral since the day after its fire in April 2019, announced its ambitious project: rebuild in Pougues-les-Eaux, in Nièvre, a true copy of the new frame and spire of the Gothic building.

“The goal,” explains its president, Pierre-Claude Sutter, “is to respond to the frustration of the public who can no longer admire the “forest”, this oak frame reproduced identically for the cathedral but now hidden under its lead roof and not included in the tour routes.”

So, for three years, the association, under the aegis of its founder Pascal Jacob, has been thinking about creating “a construction site-spectacle”, which promotes companionship and in particular the carpentry trades, but also raises awareness of the importance of large forests and their management in our territory. The National Forestry Office is also a partner in the adventure.

An interpretation center to celebrate know-how and the exceptional forest

From 2029, an elevator tower will allow visitors to visit the spire under construction. The framework of the nave then the choir and the transepts will be mounted on walls one floor high, but which will not have a vault, so that we can admire “from below and from within the work of cutting and assembling the beams” specifies Patrice Warnant, the architect in charge of the project.

This place will form an interpretation center “with living workshops to discover the gestures of the companions, the artistic professions and the excellent know-how linked to wood”. The invisible frames of the belfries, which carry the bells, should also be reconstructed, sheltered by a glass roof which will reach 80 meters high.

Pougues-Les-Eaux was chosen for its Mont-Givre, at an altitude of 300 meters, surrounded by the national forest of Bertranges, “the first oak grove in France, with its 12,000 hectares,” insists Pascal Jacob, and which has already donated numerous trees to Notre-Dame de Paris.” It is also labeled an “exceptional forest”.

Connecting the heritage treasures of Nièvre

On the summit of Mont-Givre, the construction site should start in 2028, and be visible “from the A77 and the national 7 crossing the Nièvre” explains Denis Thuriot, mayor of Nevers and president of the community of municipalities, who sees in this project a formidable lever to attract passing tourists and also allow them to discover the thermal park of Pougues, and of course… the cathedral of Nevers, too little known despite its spectacular contemporary stained glass windows. “We will develop circuits between the heritage sites and this construction site, for vehicles but also for bicycles and pedestrians,” he adds.

It remains to find the budget to finance the operation. The association is banking on 100% sponsorship and is giving itself a big year to find the 16 million euros needed for the first phase. They have five years to succeed. The same somewhat crazy deadline as that granted to restore Notre-Dame.