- Saturday morning, a fire caused major damage in the Saint-Pierre cathedral, in the city center of Nantes.
- The restoration works, including the reconstruction of the great organ, could last several years.
The intense emotion will gradually give way to the prospect of reconstruction. Two days after the fire that caused major damage in the Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul cathedral in downtown Nantes, and while the investigation is still ongoing, many questions arise as to the restoration of this religious building. While the state (which owns it) assured, this Monday morning, that it would bear the costs, the operation, which promises to be complex, could take several years.
What are the damages?
The first step, which started on Saturday noon, is the completion of an inventory. If no victims are to be deplored, the flamboyant Gothic style building suffered numerous damages: the large organ, the main focus of the fire, was entirely destroyed and the gallery on which it majestically enthroned was degraded. As for Hippolyte Flandrin's painting, Saint Clair healing the blind , is definitively lost. The fire also charred part of the choir stalls and the stained glass windows of the large glass roof, some of which were collected.
This weekend, several objects from the crypt were evacuated and sheltered in the reserves of the castle of the Dukes. Certain tables still need to be examined to find out whether the water or soot may have damaged them. "A statement of condition must also be made around the tomb of François II and Marguerite de Foix, which fortunately seems to have been only slightly affected," says Philippe Charron, head of the heritage, architecture and protected areas division at the regional office cultural affairs (Drac). The choir organ also suffered, but it is not lost. "
Is the building itself weakened?
"There is no concern for the structure even if falling rocks are not to be excluded," continues Philippe Charron. The stone lace around the canopy suffered enormously. A security perimeter will therefore remain in place on the cathedral forecourt, before a large scaffolding is erected in front of the facade. A fence must be quickly installed to avoid any risk of intrusion.
"The next step will be a consolidation and cleaning phase," says Philippe Charron. It will then be necessary to make a very fine analysis almost stone by stone, with the assistance of experts, in order to identify those which will have to be replaced. We already know that some were damaged over 15 cm. "
What to do to replace the organ?
The reconstruction of the organ, described as "the soul of the cathedral", is a priority. "It is an invaluable loss, judge Emmanuel Serrand, delegate of Loire-Atlantique at the heritage foundation. You should know that the instrument had a unique musical character thanks to its two major renovations in 1784 and 1970. Its history is intimately linked to that of the cathedral since it had survived the Revolution, the bombings of 1944 and the fire of 1972. "
The heritage foundation has also launched a call for donations in partnership with the Ministry of Culture for the restoration of the instrument, which had reached more than 30,000 euros on Monday afternoon. "We have no idea yet of the amount necessary to rebuild it," continues Emmanuel Serrand. But this figure could rise to several million euros, when we know that the only restoration of the great organ of Le Mans, in 2016, had cost 900,000 euros. The Drac indicates that it is still too early to know whether the organ will be rebuilt identically or not. Consultation will be organized.
How long could the building stay closed?
Difficult to say even if the diocese confides to 20 Minutes that a closure of "several years" would already be envisaged. "It is indeed the unit of measurement," confirms Philippe Charron. The State services are fully mobilized but it should be known that there are scientific and technical delays which will be incompressible. We must first allow ourselves time to measure with a magnifying glass the exact extent of the disorders. "
A more precise timetable could be known within a month. A reopening to the public could however be decided once the restoration of the building will allow it, even if the new organ is not yet delivered.
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- Fire
- Nantes
- Society
- Heritage
- Restoration