Lifestyle
FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017
A statue on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral and the River Seine in Paris, which is in need of
large scale restoration. — AFP photos
The interior of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, which is in need of large scale restoration.
Hunchback's dream: Returning
Paris Notre Dame to glory
V
ictor Hugo would be appalled to see the ravages inflicted
by time, pollution and weather on his beloved Notre Dame,
the soaring cathedral that adorns the heart of Paris. The
celebrated French novelist wrote "The Hunchback of Notre
Dame", published in 1831, largely to draw attention to the glories
of Gothic architecture, which in his day was often neglected or
disfigured by modern additions. With its twin towers, stainedglass windows, gargoyles and flying buttresses-a colossal
achievement that took more than a century to complete-the
cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site that draws between 12
and 14 million visitors each year.
Though the French government currently spends two million
euros ($2.3 million) a year for maintenance work, the conservation to-do list is growing long. Gargoyles that have lost their
heads have been fixed up with unsightly plastic tubes for water
drainage. Elsewhere, an entire stone balustrade is missing,
replaced by plywood; a pinnacle has crumbled and a stainedglass window's frame is in a sorry state of repair.
Decorative details that have fallen away from flying buttresses
have been set aside for safekeeping. The central lead-clad wooden spire, which rises 93 meters (300 feet) above the cathedral roof
and weighs 250 tons, is also in need of costly restoration. The
lead, meant to protect the spire from the elements, is wearing
thin, noted government conservationist Marie-Helene Didier.
A statue on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral and the River
Seine in Paris.
million euros donated to a heritage fund. Through the Friends of
Notre-Dame de Paris group, Paris's Roman Catholic diocese is
reaching out to Americans "who have a culture of giving and are
very attached to this monument", Andre Finot, a spokesman for
the cathedral, said. Finot, who knows Notre Dame's every nook
and cranny, is leading the funding drive. "It's really urgent," he
told AFP, during a tour of the devastation caused by air pollution
and acid rain. "You realize that (state funds) are not enough." By
his estimate, the bill could come to at least 150 million euros over
30 years.
US star power
Notre Dame won some US star power in September 2014
when pop idol Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay Z and
daughter Blue Ivy, then two, enjoyed a private tour of the monument. American tourists are particularly enthralled by Hugo's
Quasimodo and other characters in "The Hunchback of Notre
Dame", immortalized in myriad films, plays and musicals.
"We are not in a situation of danger, we still manage to handle
the most urgent needs," said Didier. But private donations "would
allow us to speed up the work." While France is spreading the net
wide in search of contributions, "we will still be appealing to the
French," Finot said. "They should be conscious of the incredible
heritage they have." — AFP
'Really urgent'
Paris is sounding the alarm, seeking donations notably from
US patrons to help pay for the work, pledging to match up to four
A man inspecting the arches on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.
The roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, which is in need of large scale restoration.