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The rebuilding of Notre Dame de Paris, part one

In the Studio takes us into the minds and processes of leading and emerging figures from across the creative world.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, is one of France鈥檚 most famous landmarks,
It鈥檚 stood on the 脦le de la Cit茅 in the very heart of France鈥檚 capital since the 12th century.
On the 15th of April 2019, it was engulfed by flames, but thanks to the bravery of hundreds of firefighters, Notre-Dame remained standing. The devastation was, however, immense. The spire collapsed into the nave and the lead roof melted and evaporated. The lattice framework underneath it, made of a thousand oak beams known affectionately as The Forest, turned to charcoal and dust. Agn猫s Poirier has been given unique access behind the scenes, and she鈥檚 been travelling around France, talking to some of the army of craftspeople from across the world, who have been painstakingly reconstructing and restoring Notre Dame to its former glory.

In part one, she travels to the Loire to see the work of two American carpenters Jackson du Bois and Michael Burrey who are helping to rebuild the spire. Agn猫s then visits Normandy where the famous bells are being restored to speak to Paul Bergamo and also where the iconic ornate cross, the only element on the roof to survive the fire, is being repaired by Vincent Combes and his team . Finally she comes face to face with a gargoyle, one of the stone creatures protecting the cathedral and finds out how to redesign the perfect beast.

Release date:

27 minutes

On radio

Next Tuesday 04:32GMT

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