Cathedral Builders for Notre-Dame de Paris
The Nave of Notre-Dame de Paris Roof Frame: Key Figures
The Choir of Notre-Dame de Paris Roof Frame: Key Figures
(from the base of the apse to the spire)
Major Milestones of the Notre-Dame de Paris Restoration Project
- Design with the roof frame engineering office
- Selection of wood in the forest
- Felling and identification of trees
- Transport and reception of logs
- Manufacturing of axes by blacksmiths
- Squaring the wood with axes
- Layout and marking
- Cutting, assembling, and dry fitting of the Notre-Dame de Paris roof frame
- Storage and disassembly
- Site supply
- Lifting and installation on site
At the Engineering Office
- 12 months of study with the engineering office and carpenters
- 25 three-dimensional finite element calculation models
- 1,300 technical drawings
- 500 layout plans and cutting sheets
- 50 prototypes for design and assembly
Wood Selection
The restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris required not just any wood, but the finest French oak, carefully chosen to honor the cathedral’s historic legacy. A total of 320 cubic meters of oak was sourced, each log selected with precision and respect for tradition. This monumental task was carried out in close collaboration with the ONF (French National Forest Office), whose expertise ensured that only the most suitable trees were chosen. What made this process truly exceptional was the attention to detail: each tree was selected while still standing, specifically matched to a particular piece of the roof frame.
The oak was sourced from some of France’s most renowned forests, including Bellême, Bercé, Chandelais, Vouillé Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Sauvant, Blois, Allogny, Tronçais, and Châteauroux. These forests, known for their high-quality timber, provided the raw material that would breathe new life into Notre-Dame’s charpente.
This approach guaranteed that every beam and joint would meet the exacting standards required to restore one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
Wood Selection
- 320 m³ of French oak
- Collaboration with the ONF (French National Forest Office) for wood selection
- Each tree was selected standing for a specific roof frame piece
Tree Felling
- 1,500 trees felled, representing 0.02% of the oaks cut in France each year (source: ONF)
Transport and Reception of Logs
- 60 log trucks received at the wood yard
Manufacturing Axes with Blacksmiths
- 60 axes specifically manufactured for the project
- 20 hours of work to manufacture one axe
Squaring the Wood
- 9,500 hours of squaring wood with axes for the choir
- 20 kilometers of wood to square with axes
In the Carpentry Workshop
Layout, marking, cutting, and assembly of the choir and nave
- 25,000 hours of cutting in the carpentry workshop
- 22 main trusses
- 67 secondary trusses (rafter trusses) and 22 half-rafter trusses of the apse to cut
- 3,500 joints and approximately 3,000 wooden pegs
On the Notre-Dame de Paris Construction Site
- On January 12, 2024, the final peg assembling the medieval roof frame of the Notre-Dame choir was driven in by Mr. Philippe Jost (President of the Public Establishment Rebuild Notre-Dame de Paris), Mr. Philippe Villeneuve (Chief Architect of Historic Monuments), and Mgr Ribadeau Dumas (Rector-Archpriest of the cathedral).
- Next step:
Restoration of the belfry…
A Renaissance
« What was lost… is reborn through the work of man… These roof frames are beautiful because they are human! »
Mgr Ribadeau Dumas, Rector of Notre-Dame de Paris
Project Management : Public Establishment Rebuild Notre-Dame de Paris (Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris – Accueil (rebatirnotredamedeparis.fr))
Project Supervision : Philippe Villeneuve, Rémi Fromont and Pascal Prunet, Chief Architects of Historic Monuments
Thanks to Our Partner Companies : La Maison Luquet, Le BE Associés, Ateliers Desmonts, Paris Charpente et Rialland