Notre Dame to be reconstructed following original design

Notre-Dame must be reconstructed according to the original design.

This is the opinion that the French Cultural Heritage Committee. "There is a broad consensus about this" confirmed the new Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot. 

This decision puts an end to the battle between "modernists" and "traditionalist", between those who wanted to put a sign of contemporaneity in the Cathedral and the purists who are opposed to any change.

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• Concert for Notre-Dame de Paris in Milan’s Duomo

The reconstruction of Notre Dame has been the subject of extensive debate in France over the last months. Over a thousand experts, architects and historians joined toghether a few weeks ago in an appeal to the government not to distort the medieval cathedral, asking for “a sense of responsibility".

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• Rome sends condolences to Paris over Notre-Dame fire

The cost of the first phase of reconstruction has increased sharply, from €85 million , estimated during the summer of 2019, to €165 million. An increase in line with the donations already received - €190 million euros - but much lower than the 833 million promised by potential donors.

The night of the fire

The fire broke out on 15 April, 2019 around 6:50 p.m.It originated in the attic at the base of the fleche, designed by the architect Viollet-le-Duc, made out of 500 tons of wood and 250 tons of lead.

According to the fire brigade, the flames started on a scaffolding installed on the roof of the building that was, at the time, undergoing maintenance repairs.

The flames then spread quickly, reaching the entire roof and destroying the structure, the oldest in Paris.

What was the cause of the fire?

According to the public prosecutor's office, the arson or criminal trail is to be ruled out. The possible causes of the fire are to be found in a non-extinguished cigarette or in an electric short circuit.