Oak trusses, weighing between 7 and 7.5 tons, were raised onto the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral on July 11 in a remarkable operation aimed at rebuilding the iconic Paris monument. Crowds gathered along the Seine River to witness the delicate process, as a crane lifted the massive trusses from a barge onto the cathedral's roof.
Transport Minister Clement Beaune described the moment as "magical" for many Parisians, emphasizing the significance of the Seine River, which will be at the center of the Paris Olympics in 2024. Despite the anticipated heavy traffic during the summer Games, General Jean-Louis Georgelin, appointed by president Emmanuel Macron to oversee the cathedral's reconstruction, affirmed that work on Notre Dame will continue without interruption.
The aim is to have the cathedral restored and ready for public use by December 2024, a deadline set to coincide with the Paris Olympics. Following the devastating fire that engulfed Notre Dame in 2019, it was decided to rebuild the monument using traditional medieval techniques.
Expert carpenters employed these ancient methods to construct the oak trusses, which measure between 14 and 16 meters wide and 12 to 13 meters high. Guided by ropes, the trusses were carefully positioned on the roof, near the area where the iconic spire once stood and within the wooden framework of Notre Dame.
As the reconstruction work progresses, the silhouette of the cathedral, currently obscured by scaffolding, is expected to gradually emerge on the Paris skyline. The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral holds immense cultural and historical significance, not only for Paris but for people around the world who were deeply affected by the fire that nearly destroyed this architectural masterpiece.
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