In just a few days, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen its doors after five years of continuous renovations following the devastating fire on April 15, 2019. As a symbolic landmark of the French capital, Notre-Dame's significance goes beyond Paris, making an international impact. This architectural gem also houses various art pieces, forming a true treasure that was saved from the flames and will be open for public viewing again starting with the reopening of the religious building this weekend.
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A Treasure of Over 1000 Pieces
In total, the Treasure of Notre-Dame boasts no less than 1300 priceless artifacts. Luckily, the firefighters managed to rescue these precious works. « It's important to remember that the treasure was not affected by the fire. No items were lost or damaged », states Laurent Roturier, regional director of cultural affairs for Île-de-France at the Ministry of Culture, to Parisien. After the fire, they were moved to the Hôtel de Ville, then to the vaults of the Louvre, which .had indeed dedicated an exhibition to the treasure of Notre-Dame. 120 pieces were displayed to trace the history of this treasure, from the Middle Ages to its revival in the 19th century, including its peak with Viollet-le-Duc during the Second Empire. On December 7 and 8, these artifacts will be back in their home. "Everyone is coming back intact," emphasizes the regional director.
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An Evacuation Operation for the Works of Art During the Fire
On April 15, 2019, the relics of the Passion – a piece of wood from the cross, a nail from the cross, the holy crown of thorns in its crystal relic case – and Saint Louis were the first to be safely removed without damage. As mentioned by the Ministry of Culture, other "treasures" were also extracted from the cathedral such as the large silver Virgin and Child, the candlestick adornments from Napoleon's coronation, and the paintings The Nativity and The Virgin of Pity. Since the cathedral's construction in 1163, this treasure has continuously enriched itself through discoveries and donations. Four full days were dedicated to... necessary to clear the entirety of this historical heritage during the fire.
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