[ad_1]
Donors have contributed more than 840 million euros to the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was badly damaged by fire in April 2019, the reconstruction manager said on Wednesday.
Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former head of the armed forces overseeing the project, told a Senate committee that money continued to flow for the restoration of the 13th-century Gothic masterpiece.
He said the “outpouring of generosity” included 100 million euros from French oil giant Total and a large undisclosed sum from the foundation of the late L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.
He did not disclose how the money would be spent, saying the breakdown would be made public once all tenders for the work have been awarded.
The spire of the iconic monument collapsed and much of the roof was destroyed in the fire of April 15, 2019.
But the efforts of firefighters kept the cathedral surviving the night, with its famous towers and flying buttresses intact.
The last two years have been devoted to safeguarding the structure, a task that is now complete, including the removal of 40,000 pieces of metal scaffolding damaged by the fire.
Georgelin has confirmed that the cathedral is set to reopen in April 2024, despite delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the release of lead particles from the roof during hell.
But the renovation of the area around the cathedral, a task incumbent on the mayor of Paris, would “probably” not begin until 2025, he said, adding that a temporary entrance would be created for tourists visiting during the Olympics 2024 in the French capital.
(with AFP)
Source link
