Projet de restauration de Notre-Dame de Paris

Addressed to the Minister of Justice and Worship in 1845, this meticulous report opens a window onto the massive responsibility of restoring Paris’s iconic cathedral. Its authors explain that a careless restoration can erase far more than the wear of centuries, and they set out the delicate balance between preserving history and ensuring the building remains a living place of worship.

The text delves into the philosophy of conservation, insisting that every later addition should be respected and repaired in its own style, while new work must remain invisible behind the original stone. It argues for a disciplined, almost self‑effacing approach, where the restorer studies the medieval mindset rather than imposing contemporary taste. Listeners will hear a compelling early debate that still shapes how historic monuments are cared for today.