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The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, is one of France’s most famous landmarks. On 15th April 2019, it was engulfed by flames, but thanks to the bravery of hundreds of firefighters, Notre Dame remained standing. The devastation was, however, immense. The spire collapsed into the nave and the lead roof melted and evaporated. The lattice framework underneath it, made of a thousand oak beams known affectionately as The Forest, turned to charcoal and dust.

Agnès Poirier has been given unique access behind the scenes, and in this second part, she’s allowed inside Notre Dame while building work continues around her. She has access to the newly constructed roof and spire, the bells and into the nave, as careful restoration work takes place. Agnès hears from roofer William Blois about what it means to work on a cathedral like Notre Dame, to restorer of mural painters Diana Castillo, who is bringing some of the chapels back to life, resplendent with their blue ceilings and golden stars, and to sculptor Stéphane Krust, who explains why latex is the best way to clean the chimaera, the stone guardians of the cathedral.

Producer: Andrea Kidd

(Image: Notre Dame. Credit: Chesnot)