For the French, the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral has been both a source of inspiration and a symbol of the nation’s glorious past.
Very happy to see this. I completely understand the view not to use money to restore but I think people outside France should understand how much this church is more than a religious symbol and has become a symbol of national identity. It is literally the center of where all roads are measured in Paris and France. It is the place where the Parisii people decided to plant roots and took the towns people almost 200 years to complete and is one of the oldest (standing) most impressive gothic cathedrals in France. Sainte-chapelle was built in 6 years for reference. We like to think the Effiel Tower is the symbol of France but Notre Dame by many is seen as the most important structure in French history. I guess what I’m saying is of all the buildings this and the Effiel tower are the two that France will never let go to ruin.
You know what? It’s great that Notre Dame got the treatment it deserves as a cultural icon.
But here’s what I see: that’s one billion euros that meticulously, almost obsessively, restored a religious building, that could have housed and fed a lot of homeless people for a lot of time. Priorities I guess…
It’s one billion euros to restore a tourist attraction worth several times that amount.
I know it’s deconsecrated, and it boosts the tourist economy, therefore the billion dollar restoration is in fact a sound financial investment. And that money paid for good craftspeople to do their craft and maintain traditional work methods and I’m all for that.
I know…
But it still find it shocking on the face of it.
