After the fire: Rebuilding Notre Dame - CBS Sunday Morning

[Rhiannon12866]

It's at the heart of Paris, in every sense of the word, and so when Notre Dame Cathedral was engulfed by fire in April 2019, it became the nation's mission to restore the medieval church to its full glory. Correspondent Seth Doane was given rare access to the cathedral's interior as it undergoes repairs, and talks with the former military general in charge of completing the effort by 2024. Aired on 12/26/2021.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Fascinating video! I was in Paris, but after the fire.

Maybe I'll be able to get back to see it fully restored.

An amazing structure!

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I remember that this was a huge story - and a tragedy - when it happened

And it's such an incredible job to replicate building that took place in the Middle Ages. So I was also very interested in how they were progressing. It really does sound like they have an end date - and I really hope that you'll be able to go back to see the restored cathedral! I'm also hoping that they'll issue more updates when they get closer!

[brer cat]

3. It looks like they are doing an awesome job

utilizing the same materials used originally.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Which has to be the most difficult restoration in history

I was comparing it to the rebuilding of Petrodvorets outside St. Petersburg, Russia (which I visited) which was destroyed by the Nazis during WWII. When I was there I saw before and after photos and only the foundation remained after the war. But Petrodvorets was built by Peter the Great in the early 1700s - while Notre Dame was begun in 1163 and finally opened in 1345!

Petrodvorets

[hlthe2b]

4. I'm so glad I got to spend as much time as I did in Notre Dame prior to the fire.

For several years when I traveled to various overseas locations, I had the option of traveling business class or having a one-day stopover--usually in Frankfort or Paris-- nominally for the purpose of recovering a bit from jetlag. Of course, I always took the one-day stopover, but of course, did the opposite and walked the streets of Paris (usually) the entire time. I'd inevitably end up at Notre Dame and just spend an hour or so inside, soaking up the experience. For those who have disdain for all things religious, believe me, the architecture of that place alone was so amazing and it was so peaceful inside, such reasons for avoidance would have been to one's own loss.

It is a wonderful place and I am so glad they are making its restoration such a priority. (and no to the cynics, I'm not suggesting they grab the food from the mouths of the impoverished or fail to provide health care, or anything else--just that in the scheme of things, it is nice to see a country likewise put priority on the things that make their country beautifully unique and celebrate their long long history).

[PJMcK]

6. We were there two months before the fire

It was a shocking event. A friend of ours lives nearby and she said people’s grief was palpable on the streets.

There are Roman baths beneath the cathedral that were restored. They’re fascinating and ingenious.

Thanks for posting the video!

[tanyev]

7. Marking to view later.