INCREDIBLE PHOTO OF ALL THE 2000 PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO RESTORING THE NOTRE DAME
The renowned Notre Dame cathedral is finally set to reopen after suffering significant damage from a devastating fire five years ago. The restoration of the cherished church to its former glory has long been anticipated by both locals and tourists, and it would not have been possible without the efforts of hundreds of workers. French President Emmanuel Macron posted a picture of everyone working on the restoration of Notre Dame to show the sheer amount of work that went into the project.
The photo was taken on November 29, during Macron's last site visit to the cathedral. In order to restore Notre Dame to its former glory, he was accompanied by an estimated 2,000 artisans, architects, carpenters, restorers, painters, roofers, foundry workers, art specialists, masons, sculptors, engineers, and technicians.
Compagnons, a shorthand for the Compagnons du Devoir, a French organization that means "Companions of Duty," is the name given to these skilled workers. With roots in the Middle Ages, this group of artisans and craftspeople seeks to preserve medieval techniques such as iron forging, marble marquetry, and stone carving. Many of these crafts have gained attention as a result of the restoration of Notre Dame, encouraging many young people to pursue apprenticeships in these centuries-old professions.
In addition to repairing the damage caused by the 2019 fire, the workers have received praise for their comprehensive cleanup, which hasn't been done since the last significant restoration in the middle of the 19th century. No element of the cathedral was overlooked, from the massive stone walls and brand-new roof timbers to the organ's 8,000 recently calibrated pipes.
According to a 1905 law, Notre Dame is the property of the French government and its "assigned user" is the Catholic Church. Therefore, the government was in charge of the restoration work. Both large sponsors and thousands of small donors contributed to the $737 million operation.
In a speech at the cathedral before the reopening, Macron informed the employees, "The Notre Dame fire was a national wound, and you have been its remedy through will, through work, through commitment." He continued, "France is so deeply grateful, and I am so deeply grateful." "You have restored Notre Dame."