Since the fire of Notre Dame, the great bells have remained silent except for a few monumental occasions. On April 15, 2019, as the fire spread from the roof and toward the facade there was a tiny window of time that almost led to the destruction of the cathedral.
The bells hang in the wooden maze of the belfry of the towers. If the fire reached them, the timbers would quickly burn and the heavy bells would drop and take the entire facade with them. Luckily the pompiers were able to control the fire in time.
First installed back to the 12th century when the godfather of the cathedral Bishop de Sully had the bells created and rang during the construction. By the 14th century, eight bells hung and rang out over Paris.
On April 29, 1682, Francois de Champvallon baptized ten new bells including the Bourdon Emmanuel in the presence of Louis XIV and Marie Theresa who were also named as godparents. During the Revolution, all bells except Emanuelle were melted down and used for cannons and coins.
In 2013 Notre Dame celebrated its 850th anniversary and for the occasion, new bells were created for the beloved cathedral. With precise instructions that the bells must be built using the original 12th-century techniques, special factories had to be located.
On January 31, 2013, eleven years ago the bells drove into Paris and down the Champs Élysées. Presented at Notre Dame in front of dignitaries they were baptized on February 2, and for the rest of the month lined the center of the cathedral so everyone could get close enough to see the inscription and verse on each one. The bells rang out for the first time on March 23, 2013, to mark the start of the Holy Week.
Following the fire, the bells remained silent, fearing the vibration could cause more damage. When it was safe enough the sound of Emmanuel could be heard over a kilometer away to note the passing and funeral of former president Jacques Chirac on September 29, 2019.
Most recently they rang out on Easter Sunday 2023 and I can’t wait to hear them ring o December 8, 2024 when the cathedral once again opens to the public.
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