On April 15, 2019, a fire damaged Notre-Dame-de-Paris, and the huge scaffolding on the cathedral was very seriously damaged.
Built in 2018 to renovate the cathedral’s spire, the 200-ton scaffolding made of 40,000 pieces is being dismantled because it is warped and has been badly weakened by the fire: “These past few months, the damaged scaffolding has been secured and girted with metal beams on three level to stabilize it and avoid any risk of collapse” the public establishment entrusted with the preservation and the restoration of the cathedral explains in a release.
On this past Monday June 8, the Notre-Dame de Paris scaffolding began to be dismantled. To disassemble it safely, parts of the damaged scaffolding were removed piece by piece, in a very thorough order; safety nets have even been set up at some places.
Late October, the scaffolding has been taken apart into four stable and independent parts, so that the tower crane was able to remove a large hanging wooden beam at the transept crossing, that was about to collapse.
Today, the scaffolding has been dismantled. "I want to thank all scaffolders, steeplejacks, nacelle manufacturers and cane operators who worked tiredlessly to complete the mission. The threat this scaffolding was for the cathedral is no more. We can now start with the last securing steps" army general Jean-Louis Georgelin said - as he is also the president of the public body entrusted with the preservation and renovation of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral.
The end of the dismantlement of the damaged scaffolding enables to start works as uncommon and difficult. They will start with setting up a temporary umbrella to save the transept crossing from the water, and can keep on securing the base of the crossing vault.
Last but not least, steeplejacks will proceed to the evacuation of ruins, cleaning and vacuuming up the four vaults by the transept crossing. This final step will enable historical monument chief architects to improve their diagnosis, prior to renovations.
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Location
Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
75004 Paris 4
Access
Metro - RER: - Cité (4) - Saint Michel - Notre-Dame (B,C) - Hôtel de Ville (1,11) - Maubert-Mutualité / Cluny - La Sorbonne (10) - Châtelet - Les Halles (7,14,A,D)
