# Rebuilding Notre-Dame cathedral (Paris) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437 "2019-12-27T03:47:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/101 "2022-03-22T07:19:16Z")
Not right, though, since it does have to last hundreds of years into the future, so not a bodge. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/102 "2022-03-22T09:36:03Z")
As [the recent _National Geographic_ article on the subject](https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/02/notre-dame-rises-again) explains, the decision has been taken to restore it to how it was before the fire, the ‘last known state’. It presents this as a victory for the _architecte en chef des monuments historiques_, Philippe Villeneuve. Villeneuve is also determined that lead be used for the roof. > It was a triumph of orthodoxy: Rebuilding to the last known state is what French restorers generally do. The Venice Charter, created in 1964 at an international conference of specialists, codifies that approach, in which the goal of historical restoration is not the most beautiful building but the most “authentic” one—the one that preserves all its layers of history. Actually, that oversimplifies the issue, as [debates about restoration have moved on since 1964](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Charter#Criticism), mostly in ways tending to reinforce the approach the French are now taking. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/103 "2022-03-22T13:06:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I am also wondering what “YOLO” means in this phrase. “You only live once” doesn’t make sense. From context, you mean “make do” or “improvise”, but I’m wondering what the connection is to those letters. I already answered that. You Only Live Once, ergo let’s improvise and hope it doesn’t break or blow up. Not speaking to Notre Dame at all. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/104 "2022-03-22T13:12:08Z")
> [@APB](#): > > As [the recent _National Geographic_ article on the subject](https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/02/notre-dame-rises-again) explains, the decision has been taken to restore it to how it was before the fire, the ‘last known state’. Which, as far as I can tell, also means not installing fire sprinklers. I find that unfathomable and I hope I’m wrong, but if they’re going to the trouble of reinstalling lead roofing, then there’s no limit to the insanity. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/105 "2022-03-22T13:56:46Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > Which, as far as I can tell, also means not installing fire sprinklers. Does it? Do you have any sources that say that? ‘Last known state’ refers to the structure, windows, interior fittings, artwork, etc. Fire prevention is in a completely different category. The roof needs a certain distribution of weight to keep the structure stable. That’s why it’s safest and best to use wooden beams and a lead roof again. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/106 "2022-03-22T14:23:11Z")
I haven’t found anything that says they ARE going to install sprinklers. The problem is that basically all the search hits are about how they didn’t have them before. So like I said, I hope I’m wrong about that. As for weight distribution, that can be engineered to match with other materials. Chartres Cathedral has an iron roof structure that was built after an 1836 fire for instance. To build a new roof with lead that isn’t also fire suppressed is criminally negligent in my opinion. > **[Notre-Dame’s Toxic Fallout (Published 2019)](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/14/world/europe/notre-dame-fire-lead.html)** > > Flames engulfed 460 tons of lead when Notre-Dame’s roof and spire burned, scattering dangerous dust onto the streets and parks of Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/107 "2022-03-22T14:26:01Z")
Last known “visual” state, at any rate. One hopes that would include improved fire detection and suppression to modern standards that the restoration team could incorporate and/or hide as to be invisible to the general public. And that sort of thing is absolutely required in the US when restoring/rebuilding historic structures. But it’s not necessarily required in France. I would hope they incorporate such here. There’s always that tension (as in this thread) between ‘faithful’ restoration, which in this case would be to how it was restored in the 19th century or thereabouts, and allowing some modern elements in while keeping the overall authenticity intact. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/108 "2022-03-22T14:39:02Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > To build a new roof with lead that isn’t also fire suppressed is criminally negligent in my opinion. Well, if you ever find any evidence that they’re going to do that, please let us know. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/109 "2022-03-22T15:31:42Z")
Do you have any evidence that they are installing sprinklers? As I mentioned, I’ve seen nothing that says they are, and you’d think that’d be one of the very first bullet points regarding the restoration. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/110 "2022-03-22T18:08:06Z")
After all this time, it just struck me: are there other cathedrals named Notre-Dame, necessitating that the thread title specify that it is the Paris one? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/111 "2022-03-22T18:13:03Z")
There’s a whole slew of them listed here: > **[Notre Dame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Notre Dame, French for "Our Lady", a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, most commonly refers to: > Notre Dame may also refer to: ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/112 "2022-03-22T18:14:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > are there other cathedrals named Notre-Dame Just a few… 🙂 From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame): > - [Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Notre-Dame_de_Fourvi%C3%A8re), Lyon > - [Cathedral of Notre Dame, Amiens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Notre_Dame,_Amiens) > - [Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Bayeux) > - [Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Chartres) > - [Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Laon) > - [Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Rouen) > - [Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg) > - [Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel of Dieppe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours_Chapel_of_Dieppe) > - [Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Notre-Dame_of_Dijon) > - [Chapel of Notre Dame des Anges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_Notre_Dame_des_Anges) > - [Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, Melun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collegiate_Church_of_Notre-Dame,_Melun) > - [Église Notre Dame de l’Assomption, Metz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Notre_Dame_de_l%27Assomption,_Metz) > - [Église Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Notre-Dame_la_Grande,_Poitiers) > - [Notre-Dame de la Garde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_la_Garde), Marseille > - [Notre Dame de l’Assomption, les Saintes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_l%27Assomption,_les_Saintes), Terre-de-Haut > - [Notre-Dame de Guebwiller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Guebwiller) > - [Notre-Dame de Nice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Nice) > - [Notre-Dame de Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris) > - [Notre-Dame de Reims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Reims) > - [Notre Dame des Cyclistes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_des_Cyclistes), Labastide-d’Armagnac > - [Notre Dame du Haut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_du_Haut), Ronchamp > - [Church of Notre-Dame, Villeneuve-sur-Yonne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Notre-Dame,_Villeneuve-sur-Yonne) There are some in other countries besides France as well. ETA: Ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/113 "2022-03-22T18:32:31Z")
The Virgin Mary is a person of some small repute in the Catholic faith. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/114 "2022-03-22T18:48:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The Virgin Mary is a person of some small repute in the Catholic faith She’s supposedly a … I was going to say “mere mortal”, but considering the Assumption, that’s not quite the case. Anyway, based on how often she’s invoked and prayed to, she either must be divine or the most overworked non-divine in the entire meta-verse. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/115 "2022-03-22T22:02:39Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Anyway, based on how often she’s invoked and prayed to, she either must be divine or the most overworked non-divine in the entire meta-verse. Actually, it is Catholic canon that Mary is, in fact, the greatest non-divine in the entire meta-verse. As for over-worked, well, she’s The Mom, and how many moms have you known who weren’t overworked? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/116 "2022-03-23T05:15:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Actually, it is Catholic canon that Mary is, in fact, the greatest non-divine in the entire meta-verse. As a former Catholic, I’m aware of what the canon about Mary is. But I also say it doesn’t pass the duck test. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/117 "2022-03-23T21:41:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That pyramid was not loved at first but instead got all sorts of criticism. (And, as I remember, neither was the Eiffel Tower.) You’re older than you look ! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/118 "2022-03-24T18:29:49Z")
And don’t him started on what the bloody _Romans_ did to the town…! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/119 "2022-04-17T02:56:45Z")
Repair efforts lead to a rood surprise: > **[Archaeologists discover historical artifacts during Notre Dame Cathedral...](https://www.npr.org/2022/04/16/1093200949/notre-dame-cathedral-artifacts-found)** > > The finds underneath the Paris landmark include a human-shaped lead sarcophagus. The discovery was made during restoration work at the cathedral, which was damaged by a fire in 2019. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437/120 "2022-04-17T04:22:43Z")
I am reminded of the project to rebuild the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, a much smaller project that will nonetheless take ten years and cost billions. To start with, they built new meeting halls for the Senate and House of Commons in adjacent buildings, so that the original chambers could be rebuilt with the rest of the Centre Block. Progress: > **[Latest progress on the Centre Block project - Canada.ca](https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/rehabilitation/edificeducentre-centreblock/progres-progress-eng.html)** > > The latest progress PSPC's construction project to restore and modernize Parliament Hill's Center Block building. Way more involved than I even expected. The Notre Dame project has got to be even more complicated. I mention this because the House of Commons chamber, in particular, is a very graceful combination of modern design with the neo-gothic revivalism of the original West Block around it. And someone mentioned the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre. There are ways of harmoniously blending modern and historic architecture, even apart from things like “putting a new steel frame under the new roof”. I wonder how much of a reproduction the replacement structure will be? Will only the public areas look ‘traditional’ and they’ll get, say, offices with modern heating and wiring as well? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuilding-notre-dame-cathedral-paris/845437.md?page=7)