The cross at the apse of Notre Dame in Pariswhich survived the devastating 2019 fire, was reinstalled atop the cathedral’s framework on Friday after a careful restoration by artistic ironworkers from Normandy.
The imposing cross, which spans more than 40 feet and weighs approximately 3,300 pounds, is the only element of the chancel roof that withstood the flames.
“The cross caught fire very early,” Vincent Combe, project manager for Metal Roofing Renovation, told CBS News. “So we were really lucky because the cross didn’t burn much, it just fell… it’s a miracle.”
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The cross was taken to an ironworks in Normandy for complex and delicate repairs. Architect Axelle Ponsonnet was involved in checking whether it could be repaired to Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s original 19th century design.
“We were very happy when we discovered that we could use it and reforge it, and work with the metal that was here, because the cross was designed by Viollet-le-Duc, so it is a very important piece of Notre Dame, Ponsonnet told CBS News.
About 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen, architects and professionals have contributed to the ongoing restoration project, with the aim of reopening the cathedral on December 8, 2024.
The fire, which occurred on April 15, 2019, caused the collapse of Notre-Dame’s spire and part of its roof. Five years later, the restoration has made significant progress, among other things the reinstallation of the lead-covered needle of the spire.
The 2019 fire was a major blow to the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of Christianity that welcomed 12 million visitors annually.
