Notre-Dame de Paris at the Cité de l'architecture: our photos of the monumental exhibition

An extraordinary project has been launched to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to its original state. How was it secured, and what scientific support was required to rebuild it? What are the site's constraints and characteristics? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in this monumental exhibition, part of the permanent tour of the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine.

From February 15, 2023 to June 2, 2024, discover Notre-Dame de Paris - from builders to restorers: an unprecedented artistic journey that not only tells us more about the current construction site, but also traces thehistory of the monument and its various restorations. Because before restoring, we need to go back to the historic construction sites, to understand how they were built and what materials were used.

Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the jewels in the crown of Paris: from the time it was first built in the 12th century, through its many transformations and the terrible fire of 2019, to the present day, it is one of the city's most important monuments.

Numerous works on display in the galerie des moulages tell the tumultuous story of this monumental edifice, which has witnessed some of the greatest events to have shaken the capital.

• To be read
• Notre-Dame de Paris at the heart of the construction site, the free exhibition under the forecourt in photos
• Le Trésor de Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral exhibition at the Musée du Louvre - our photos
• Tips for the week of April 29 - May 5, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings

But above all, this exhibition highlights the craftsmen, journeymen, engineers, architects and researchers who have worked over the centuries to build and preserve this cathedral. It's a titanic task, requiring the skills and knowledge of a very special group of people. The Cité de l'architecture unveils the techniques and know-how used to build this edifice, showing both processes that have gone out of fashion, and those that are still in use, several centuries later.

Of course, it's hard to talk about Notre-Dame without mentioning thefire of 2019. Part of the exhibition explains how the cathedral is restored, what materials and methods are used to repair the monument and restore it to its former glory.

From works of art and stones that cannot be restored or reused, to restored works that will soon be back in their rightful place, the exhibition takes a look at the history of the site. In particular, we discover the 16 immense sculptures that were fortunately removed for restoration, just 4 days before the fire. Restored paintings and stained-glass windows, a part of the organ you'll probably never see again - these are just some of the beautiful discoveries awaiting you at this exhibition.

Discover Notre-Dame de Paris as you've never seen it before, before it reopens to the public in 2024. A cultural and historical event not to be missed!