Île-de-France Region
On 15 April, a fire suddenly burst into life beneath the roof of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. First a wisp of smoke that grew thicker, then flames that became higher and fiercer, gnawing away at the roof, devouring the woodwork, ravaging the spire. First, disbelief. Then pain and fear. Throughout the night, the fear of seeing one of our most emblematic monuments crumble. Throughout the night, the courage and daring of the fire brigade finally enabled them to vanquish the flames.
Going to Notre-Dame, I immediately expressed the desire for the Region to support its future restoration and reconstruction. Amidst the sorrow, I wanted to send a message of hope and a call to mobilise. By passing a bill to provide the Fondation Notre Dame with support of 10 million euros, the Ile-de-France Region wanted to contribute, along with thousands of people in France and around the world, to saving what is quite simply an essential part of us.
I would like to salute everyone who has given and is continuing to give for the benefit of Notre-Dame de Paris. Along with the Fondation Notre Dame, I would like to thank the Fondation du Patrimoine (Heritage Foundation), the Fondation de France (France Foundation) and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (National Monuments Centre), who have been collecting promises and transforming them into effective donations.
We will save Notre-Dame. We will also save the thousand small Notre-Dames that are in danger in our region: this is what the Region is working toward in Île-de-France through our heritage policy. »
Valérie Pécresse,
Chairman of the Île-de-France Regional Council
