The upper regions of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris were a veritable forest of ancient oak beams, an immense stack of tinder just waiting for a spark to set off the great conflagration. That’s why no electric wires were run into the loft — to reduce the chance of fire.
The following video clip is an excerpt from a documentary about Notre Dame that aired last year. Many thanks to MissPiggy for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:
Video transcript:
00:00 | Phillip Villeneuve takes us 300 steps higher above the heart of the nave. Into Notre Dame’s frame. | |
00:10 | An area not accessible to the public, without electricity to prevent fire. | |
00:19 | The odor announces to us that everything here is made of wood. | |
00:37 | Notre Dame’s framework of beams is like a forest. Yes, it is a mythical place, it is like a dream. | |
00:43 | It is a treasure of the 12th and 13th centuries that is still intact. | |
00:48 | Why do you call it a forest? —Because an enormous amount of oak was used here. | |
00:53 | The amount corresponds to a forest and so that’s we refer to it as the forest. | |
00:57 | That means there are still beams here from the 12th century? — Of course. | |
01:00 | Yes there are. That’s it exactly. This is what makes the framework of Notre Dame of Paris a | |
01:04 | huge treasure and of great interest. And then you also have the Viollet-le-Duc, which is a spire that | |
01:09 | fascinates any carpenter, journeyman or architect. They dream of this spire. They dream of seeing it. | |
01:13 | You just have to come see it. | |
01:20 | The Viollet-le-Duc is a feat of genius from 1859, an adornment resting on these beams. The spire. |
On Krystalnact, many hundreds of synagogues we burnt down, one might call it the opening gambit of the holocaust
This time it is Christian Churches – think about it – To where are you going to flee?
Far from “tinder waiting for a sparkle”, according to the former architect of the site. See interview he gave on Tuesday (with english subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5QO5dP_NSk
[nb other link I sent doesn’t work anymore, delete post]