News about the restoration of the south tower of the Cathedral of Troyes, in pictures (October-November 2021). The scaffolding set up stone restoration and sculpture companies took possession of the site. A transaction carried out as part of the Recovery Plan.
News about the restoration of the south tower of the Cathedral of Troyes in pictures
Of 1er on October 10e 2021
The last elements of the scaffolding were installed (lift, installation of doors and safety barriers).
To find the video of the assembly of the scaffolding in time-lapse: the assembly of this metal monster, accelerated.
From the 11th October 2021
Identification of disorders and cleaning of masonry and sculptures
Masonry and masonry and carving restoration companies took over the site.
The masonry
Chatignoux (Fontaine-les-Grès) has applied a first biocidal treatment to the stones and has begun the pre-calibration of the stone-cutting masonry lot.
The intervention of the fitter precedes the work of cutting and sculpture. Its role is to identify damaged stones.
Over time, the surface of the stone undergoes a change in its appearance due to deposits on the surface, transformations of the epidermis located under the deposits, impregnations in the porous network. A first biocidal treatment has been applied. Three will be required. The cleaning of the stone contributes to the conservation of the monument and not only to its aesthetics. This delicate operation must be carried out by specialized and qualified companies.
Breakage, crack, frost or even degradation by pigeons are the main disorders observed.
The stones are all sounded and then marked with a red cross to indicate which ones need to be replaced.
The tracing: gradually, the stones in arrears are located on the survey background. The synthesis and clean-up of the work will be done in the workshop to precisely define the cubing of stones needed before ordering the stones to the carrier.
The stones will be replaced by Tercé stone, for sculpture (above)
and Chauvigny stone for the structure (below).
Pierre Vigneron
34 years old, sailer
9 years in the company Chatignoux
After an apprenticeship with the companions of duty, Pierre Vigneron acquired a fine knowledge of stone works. He mastered the art of cutting stones and tracing.
The volume of stones to be replaced is very important on this site, as is the working time we will have. My time on site represents one quarter of the total work, or three shifts in the workshop.
The quality of the works on this façade is remarkable. I’m happy to come back to this, because 10 years ago we were finishing the previous tranche.
My work requires me to check every stone, every detail and I discover a lot of surprises. Like sculptures hidden on a train of chimeras in the gable or carved children’s heads hidden behind gargoyles.”
The sculpture
l'Atelier de restauration de sculpture Enache (Paris) has started the survey and the findings of the condition of the sculpture lot.
The company’s intervention on the site begins with the cleaning of the sculpted elements.
For 3 to 4 weeks, a conservator scraped and removed the mosses present on each sculpture on the façade.
A sculpture after surgery.
A biocidal treatment is then applied. The application is done by brush or sprayer.
It takes about 3 weeks of exposure time. For obvious reasons of dripping, the operation starts from the highest point, up to level 0.
In a second step, it will be a micro sanding of the sculptures that will remain in place.
Joy Jaroba
Plastic artist, restorer
Works on missions for the Enache sculpture restoration workshop for 5 years
This artist and restorer intervenes during targeted missions of restoration of historical monuments (the staircase of the queen or the chapel of Villers-Cotteret), as well as on the realization of movie sets. She also runs artists' workshops in France but also abroad (Spain, Patagonia or Romania).
The chimeras are absolutely magnificent, the work of sculpture is very fine. There is still a lot of moss and I can’t wait to discover all this decor. Despite the destruction and other historical hazards, the cathedral has kept its unity. Overall the sculpture is in very good condition. My work will end in two weeks and then another team will intervene».
Other news from the site
Archaeology du frame
The Medieval Study Centre (CEM) (Auxerre), a specialist in the archaeology of buildings, conducted a first photographic survey and observation campaign on October 14, 2021.
The first findings confirm that the construction of the tower is very homogeneous over the entire height. Regarding geology, most of the stones come from Savonnières (especially for the lower parts carved like the portal). The cladding stone is for the most part Limestone of Thunder. Further studies on the traces of tools and holes of boulins are to come.
Site organization
Construction fencing equipment has been delivered and installation will take place in the first half of November 2021. An access gate for vehicles and a pedestrian gate will be set up. The students of the heritage formation of the URCA - Campus des Comtes de Champagne de Troyes, to whom the DRAC entrusted the decoration of the palisade, returned a first model.
Educational actions and openness to the public
First guided tours of the site
October 26, 2021: guided tour for the association "Avenir et sauvegarde de Troyes"
This project will be accompanied by a large number of educational and heritage awareness actions. In this way, the public will be able to discover the wonders of the Gothic sculpture «Pierre et Martin Chambiges» during guided tours. A first group was hosted on October 26, 2021, in connection with the association Avenir et Sauvegarde de Troyes.
October 29, 2021: Cathedral Volunteer Tour
This visit to the site for volunteers working on the maintenance of the cathedral was an opportunity for this small group passionate about the building to discover a new facet and to exchange with the restorer in full work.
Coming November 2021
Installation of Site Fence
An access portal for vehicles will be set up as well as an access gate for pedestrians.
An Economic Recovery Plan Operation
The restoration of the Cathedral of Troyes is an operation financed under thePlan cathedrals" of the Plan de relance de l'économie to the tune of €1,005,082 out of a total of 1 042 013 €.
It is 100% supported by the State.
Contracting authority : State - Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Grand Est
Project management : Michel Trubert, Chief Architect of Historical Monuments - Trubert Architects Agency.