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Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with Laurent Bonneval

Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with Laurent Bonneval


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

For nearly one thousand years Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris has stood witness to iconic moments of history. From groundbreaking in 1163 to the tragic fire of April 2019, it has stood at the heart of Paris for key moments such as the arrival of the Holy Crown of Thorns in 1239 and the coronation of Emperor Napoleon in 1804. Join a local expert as we take a deep dive into this iconic cathedral's storied history.

Built on the Île de la Cité, an island that once hosted a Roman temple, Notre Dame has undergone several rounds of restoration during the past few centuries. During a tragic accident in April 2019, a fire was sparked in its attics and nearly destroyed the structural integrity of this Gothic behemoth. During the months following this tragedy, more than $1 billion USD were raised to review this classic monument, which is the heartbeat of France. 

Led by a local expert,  Laurent Bonneval, we will examine the narrative timeline of Notre Dame's development, from the first stone laid to the ongoing restoration efforts in 2021. Designed to inspire future travels, our discussion will allow participants the opportunity to examine this beautiful cathedral and ask questions of a local art historian. 

After graduating in law and business, Laurent spent the first twenty years of his career managing international sales for an advertising company. But his passion for art and history took over and he eventually passed a master's in Art History and the Art Market, as well as obtaining his official license as a “guide-conférencier”. A Parisian for over 25 years now, he has an in-depth knowledge of the city and its treasures. His objective? Making art and history come to life! He loves strolling around the city and its museums tracking the history and meaning of monuments and artworks alike.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
95%
(21)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Stephanie (Silver Spring, US)
Informative, insightful and interesting

Another great lecture from Laurent Bonnval -- detailed, with lots of helpful context and beautifully illustrated. Merci!

S
Stephanie (Silver Spring, US)
Cornucopia of fascinating information

Another riveting, scrupulously researched lecture from Monsieur Bonneval covering a broad range of disciplines and beautifully illustrated. Bravo!

S
Sandra S -- Boston (Saugus, US)
Very Inclusive Seminar: History, Architecture, Fire, Restoration

This was a fast-moving but very interesting seminar about the events leading up to and subsequent damage from the April, 2019 fire. The speaker related the building of the cathedral and its unique attributes which provided the implications of the fire's damage and the awesome work that has to be done to restore it. Especially liked the descriptions of the fragile treasures that were there and their status today. To absorb all of the many facts, I aim to re-watch the seminar. Thanks!

J
Joanne (Alameda, US)
Wealth of information

Well organized talk of ND past, treasures, tragedy and reconstruction and restoration from an interior point of view. Very good lecture and lecturer.

K
Kathy Chudoba (Logan, US)

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
95%
(21)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Stephanie (Silver Spring, US)
Informative, insightful and interesting

Another great lecture from Laurent Bonnval -- detailed, with lots of helpful context and beautifully illustrated. Merci!

S
Stephanie (Silver Spring, US)
Cornucopia of fascinating information

Another riveting, scrupulously researched lecture from Monsieur Bonneval covering a broad range of disciplines and beautifully illustrated. Bravo!

S
Sandra S -- Boston (Saugus, US)
Very Inclusive Seminar: History, Architecture, Fire, Restoration

This was a fast-moving but very interesting seminar about the events leading up to and subsequent damage from the April, 2019 fire. The speaker related the building of the cathedral and its unique attributes which provided the implications of the fire's damage and the awesome work that has to be done to restore it. Especially liked the descriptions of the fragile treasures that were there and their status today. To absorb all of the many facts, I aim to re-watch the seminar. Thanks!

J
Joanne (Alameda, US)
Wealth of information

Well organized talk of ND past, treasures, tragedy and reconstruction and restoration from an interior point of view. Very good lecture and lecturer.

K
Kathy Chudoba (Logan, US)

Guest did not leave comment