Fire of Notre-Dame de Paris: the Prime Minister announces an international architectural competition

Should we rebuild the spire? Identically? In line with the techniques and issues of our era?" asked the Prime Minister on 17 April via Twitter, before adding: "An international architectural competition on the reconstruction of the cathedral's spire will be organised". This international project, which should be detailed soon, will not fail to highlight French excellence in artistic crafts training.

In his speech the day after the disaster, the President of the Republic recalled that France is a people of builders: "We will rebuild Notre-Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years. We can do it. And in this too we will mobilise".

France, champion of crafts

The list of approved crafts, published by the Ministry of Culture, includes hundreds of jobs performed by men and women who cultivate their passion during the restoration of exceptional pieces in France and abroad.

To allow access to these atypical professions, France has set up a system for artistic training in prestigious higher education institutions that cover all areas of heritage and which Campus France promotes worldwide, including its collection of expertise in the fields of arts and architecture. 

Notre-Dame de Paris, the most visited monument in Europe

What could be more natural than launching an international competition when the figures show that Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris is the most visited monument in both France and Europe: about 13 million visitors a year from around the world. Figures that also show that for 2018, France welcomed a record number of 90 million foreign tourists to its territory.