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French Senators have stipulated Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral must be restored exactly how it was before the massive fire destroyed much of the historic landmark.
The French Senate has now approved the restoration bill that was already passed by the French Parliament to allow work on the cathedral to be completed in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024, but added a clause specifying it must be restored to its original condition, striking a blow to France’s Prime Minister Édouard Philippe’s idea to have an international architectural competition to redesign the roofline of the cathedral, reports French news site The Local.
The Senators have also taken out a clause from the bill that would give the government the power to override regulations on planning, environmental and heritage protection, and public tenders. Finally, the bill allows the government to create an établissement public à caractère administratif (EPA), or public project, to manage the reconstruction. This EPA will be placed under the authority of the France Ministry of Culture, according to The Local.
