Notre Dame Cathedral

Carpenters at the Ateliers Perrault finalize the practice assembly of the charpente, or roof framework of the choir — the part of the cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and choir — on May 25. It extends nearly 50 feet long by 33 feet high.

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To rebuild Notre Dame's fire-ravaged roof, carpenters use centuries-old techniques

5:01am June 11, 2023

by Eleanor Beardsley

When fire engulfed the Paris landmark in 2019, the intricate maze of medieval beams supporting the roof fell to the cathedral floor. Experts are working to restore the church by the end of 2024.

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France's Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot (center left) visits the Notre Dame Cathedral archaeological research site in Paris on March 15 after the discovery of a 14th century lead sarcophagus.

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Archeologists discover historical artifacts during Notre Dame Cathedral restoration

1:38pm April 16, 2022

by Jeff Dean

The finds underneath the Paris landmark include a human-shaped lead sarcophagus. The discovery was made during restoration work at the cathedral, which was damaged by a fire in 2019.

Nearing Anniversary Of Devastating Fire, Notre Dame To Host A Good Friday Service

5:33pm April 09, 2020

by Eleanor Beardsley

April 15 will mark the first anniversary of the fire that ripped through the cathedral. The Paris archbishop says he wants to send a "message of hope" through a small Good Friday service.

A cleanup crew scrubs pavement in front of the cathedral on Monday, after French inspectors said workers could return to the fire-damaged site to continue repairs.

Notre Dame Repair Crews Are Back To Work, But Paris' Lead Concerns Remain

3:30pm August 20, 2019

by Jake Cigainero

Environmental and labor groups complain the cleanup should have begun sooner, and they are concerned about health risks in Paris.

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Students chip and chisel away at heavy slabs of stone in the workshops of the Hector Guimard high school, less than three miles from Paris' Notre Dame cathedral.

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Notre Dame Fire Revives Demand For Skilled Stone Carvers In France

10:13am July 20, 2019

by Eleanor Beardsley

"With stone carving, we give life to an edifice and perpetuate history. We're also creating a link with the past and transmitting values that are important to conserve in society," one student says.

Hannah Bloch, an editor on NPR's international desk, shared this photo her great-grandfather took in 1931, with Notre Dame in the background. He had served as a U.S. Army doctor in France during World War I and returned on holiday years later.

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Here Are Some Of Your Favorite Memories Of Notre Dame

6:06pm April 17, 2019

We asked our audience to share thoughts after fire devastated the beloved Paris cathedral on Monday. We received hundreds of responses — photos, memories, even watercolor sketches. Here are a few.

Damage seen from inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Tuesday. President Emmanuel Macron has set a five-year goal to rebuild the cathedral after Monday's blaze.

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Donation Pledges Roll In For Notre Dame's Reconstruction

8:18pm April 16, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

France's wealthiest families and businesses pledged hundreds of millions of euros to restore one of their nation's cultural touchstones.

People attend a vigil in Paris on Tuesday following the devastating fire that destroyed much of the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Paris Holds Vigil To Mourn Notre Dame Fire Damage, Macron Vows Swift Reconstruction

6:02pm April 16, 2019

by Amy Held

The French president set a goal of completing the work in five years. Hundreds of millions of dollars were raised toward the effort one day after a fire at the cathedral.