The 21st century will undoubtedly go down in the history of heritage as that of the revival of cathedral spiers. After that of Notre-Dame de Paris, restoration work continues, as in Rouen, or reconstruction, as in Saint-Denis. Today it is the turn of the spire of Dijon Cathedral to be completely renovated.
During a trip to the Burgundian capital, Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, announced the launch of this major project. With a budget of 22 million euros, covered by the State, owner of the building, and lasting 5 years, this work requires a complete removal of the structure, including the highest frame. made of French wood (62 meters from the base of the spire to the top).
« Built in 1894 by Charles Suisse, emulator of Viollet-le-Ducin a style inspired by 15th century Gothic, the spire had become unstableexplains Laurent Barrenechea, regional curator of historical monuments at Drac Bourgogne Franche-Comté. The stool, the base of the spire, suffers from structural deformations of its beams which weaken the entire structure. »
One construction site followed by another
After temporary stabilization with metal elements, it is necessary to dismantle everything, restore piece by piece in the workshop, then reassemble the whole thing in sections. A temporary sliding roof, a bit like the one installed at Notre-Dame de Paris, will be installed to protect the cathedral from bad weather.
A considerable project which follows another, completed in July after 4 years of work, of the crypt and the sacristy of Saint-Bénigne cathedral. This work made it possible to restore the rotunda, the most exceptional element of the Romanesque crypt dating from the year 1000 and the only vestige of the abbey church of the time, since destroyed. Buried under the rubble of architectural elements destroyed during the Revolution, this elegant rotunda, enhanced with mosaics, was rediscovered during the construction of the sacristy in the 19th century.
«The construction site made it possible to restore the neo-Gothic decorations of this sacrisity, such as gargoyles or fleurons.explains Laurent Barrenechea. And we were surprised to find the remains of two staircases leading to the crypt. » The result has attracted more than 10,000 people who have come to visit the site since this summer.
