The Reconstruction of Notre-Dame: Our Pride and Contribution

April 2019: The world stood still as flames engulfed Notre-Dame. Millions watched through various channels as the fire devastated the cathedral. The collapse of the central spire marked the lowest point of this tragedy.

The stone workshop of Monument Vandekerckhove played a crucial role in the restoration of this iconic cathedral.

Our work included the reconstruction of the north and south façades of the transept, known as the “pignon nord et sud”, including the adjacent flanking towers. In addition, the pinnacles of the nave were meticulously prepared in our workshop.

We are especially proud to have met the strict demands of our French client, who greatly valued our craftsmanship and precision. All of this was completed within a very tight timeframe, adding to the challenge.

The transepts — among the most heavily damaged parts of the cathedral — crown the imposing Gothic structure. Monument Lanfry was responsible for producing the south side, while Monument Vandekerckhove handled the north side.

The gables were completed in the spring, allowing carpentry work on the transept roof to proceed. The side towers will only be placed once the roof structure is finished. In our workshop, we assembled the tourelles — imposing pinnacles of approximately nine metres high, pre-assembled in layered segments.

For this project, the chosen material was St Maximin limestone, a soft and workable natural stone also used in other Parisian landmarks. In Belgium, this same stone was used for the restoration of the Beguinage Church in Mechelen.

For the north façade and its towers alone, we produced 105 m³ of stone, representing 215 tons of material. Slightly less than 100 m³ was used for the southern side.

Now that Notre-Dame sheds its scaffolding, we are proudly and permanently linked to this world-renowned monument. It is a historic achievement, both for the cathedral and for Group Monument.

Would you also like to be part of unique projects like these? Then click on 'JOBS' above and select the vacancy that suits you, or apply spontaneously!

Or send an email with your CV and cover letter to jobs@monument.be. We'll get back to you soon!