A Titan-sized Project
Victim of an arson fire in July 2020, the cathedral suffered significant damage. “Every day, we learned a little more about its condition,” shares Philippine Burgaud, a heritage engineer at DRAC. The investigations revealed the need to completely overhaul the electrical and safety systems. Although the work took longer than expected, the teams never relaxed their efforts. “There was no downtime,” emphasizes Pauline Ducom, curator of historical monuments.
@Nantes Métropole @Marc Roger
A Festive and Solemn Program
To celebrate the occasion, the city and the diocese have prepared a festive and solemn weekend. On Saturday, September 27, the day will kick off at 2:30 PM with a ceremony honoring the artisans who worked on the restoration, followed by a concert featuring the bagad and the band of the 9th Marine Infantry Regiment. The official inauguration is scheduled for 4 PM at Place Saint-Pierre, followed by a tribute to the firefighters and the police force. The highlight of the afternoon: the show Elevation, created by Fred Deb’ and accompanied by the Stradivaria orchestra, at 5:15 PM. In the evening, the cathedral will resonate with the sound of its organ, finally awakened, and will host vespers and concerts.
On Sunday, September 28, it’s time for discovery: guided tours with the mediators from the Voyage à Nantes are planned throughout the morning, before the...mass of reopening at 3:30 PM.
Visible Scars
The nearly complete reopening does not erase all the wounds from the fire. The grand organ, completely destroyed, will have to wait longer before being replaced. Some major works are still missing, including the monumental painting of Saint Clair healing the blind by Hippolyte Flandrin, which was lost in the flames. The tomb of the Dukes of Brittany won't return to its place until 2026, after a lengthy desalination process. The crypt, still under construction, will later host an exhibition recounting the history of the disaster and the monument's rebirth.
Despite the scaffolding still visible on the west facade, the reopening is a true relief for the people of Nantes. This weekend promises to be a significant time of remembrance, celebration, and shared emotion with tributes, music, and ceremonies.
All the info can be found here