The road to the reconstruction and renovation of Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral has taken a new, solid step forward with the latest decision of the French Senate.
The French Senate passed a decision on the reconstruction of Notre Dame cathedral on Monday evening. Photo by gehringj/Getty Images
After the fire that spread out through the historic Gothic cathedral on 15 April that irremediably damaged Notre Dame’s spire and rooftop, the French government launched an international architecture competition to solicit ideas for what could be a new design for one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks. Ideas started pouring in from everywhere around the world, detailing plans for a rooftop garden or even a swimming pool.
Notre Dame cathedral was engulfed by fire on 15 April last. Photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images
On Monday evening, though, the French Senate reviewed the restoration bill (already passed by the National Assembly, the other chamber of the French Parliament) and issued the decision that the cathedral is to be restored exactly as it was, faithful to the “last visual statement” of Notre Dame. This clause of fidelity added by the Senate means no gardens or swimming pools, but rather a careful reconstruction of the cathedral as it was before the fire.
Reconstruction works of Notre Dame should be completed by 2024, when Paris will host the Olympic games. Photo by Sizun Eye/Getty Images
The bill has now gone back to the National Assembly to be approved with the new clauses put there by the Senate, but it seems quite certain that when Notre Dame will see the light of day as a restored cathedral again, it will be with the same design it has had since 1859, when the spire was added to the medieval structure. Renovation works are expected to be completed by 2024 when Paris will host the 26th Olympic games.
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