France 2 is dedicating its Christmas evening at the famous cathedral with the documentary "Notre-Dame de Paris, à l'about des centuries", then a number of "Places of legend" devoted to the building, and finally the recording of a concert.

Emmanuel Blanchard, director of the documentary, details for "Culture Médias" the content of the beginning of this special evening.

This year, France 2 makes Christmas and cathedral rhyme, with a special evening dedicated to Notre-Dame de Paris.

It will begin at 9:05 pm, with the

documentary Notre-Dame de Paris, to the test of centuries

.

Its director Emmanuel Blanchard explains in 

Culture Médias

what awaits viewers.

The evening will continue at 10:45 pm with a number of "Places of legend" dedicated to the history of the religious building, followed at 11:35 pm by the live broadcast of the Christmas concert of Notre-Dame.

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Thanks to 3D animation, Emmanuel Blanchard's documentary aims to bring the history of Notre-Dame de Paris back to life, from the beginnings of its construction, in 1163, to today.

"The history of Notre-Dame de Paris is not only medieval", recalls the director.

"It is understandable by looking at its long history, including a very important chapter in the 19th century."

A documentary in the form of animated fiction

Beyond the big names in the history of the building (such as Bishop Maurice de Sully and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc), Emmanuel Blanchard also pays tribute to the anonymous people who made it possible to build and maintain the cathedral for eight centuries.

To do this, he uses 3D animation, in order to give shape to the characters of the time, as well as to the various stages of the construction of the cathedral. 

"The construction of Notre-Dame de Paris is a collective work, even if those that were called at the time the 'works' did not leave any traces other than those on the stones and the frame", explains he.

"Fictionalizing and animating in 3D this documentary allows them to pay homage. The worker characters are invented but their clothes, their technical gestures and their tools are attested by historians of architecture." 

Despite its playful form,

Notre-Dame de Paris, to the test of centuries 

is therefore indeed a historical documentary.

The actress Sophie Marceau lends her voice to the comments of this film, broadcast Thursday evening at 9:05 pm on France 2.