News of the restoration of the Cathedral of Troyes in November and December 2021. While the construction site has taken on its cruising rhythm, the 100th visitor has already been welcomed on the site and the first classes have started their educational workshops.
Educational actions and openness to the public
The 100e visitors hashome on site
In 1.5 months, more than 100 visitors have already been able to discover the restoration site of the cathedral of Troyes, during the public visits proposed by the DRAC Grand Est (heritage associations and visits of the tourist office), to which are added the school visits that began in October 2021.
Guided tours all public
In order to offer more visitors the possibility to access the restoration site, the DRAC Grand Est has also trained the guides of the tourist office to allow them to manage the visits independently.
Those interested in visiting the site are invited to contact the Troyes Tourist Office.
These are guided tours that include the discovery of the cathedral, interior and exterior and access to the site.
Only on reservation, in groups of 14 people maximum. (Contacts OT Troyes: 03 25 82 62 70 - Price 8€).
Arts and cultural education activities for school children
By deciding to make the restoration of Troyes Cathedral as accessible as possible to the public, the DRAC has chosen to promote artistic and cultural education activities implemented as part of its partnership with national education: the Rector of the Academy of Reims/Direction des Services Départementaux de l'Éducation Nationale de l'Aube.
Globalised Artistic Projects (PAG): knowledge, encounter and practice
The construction of the south tower of the Cathedral of Troyes is thus integrated into two globalized artistic projects (PAG): the PAG «I discover my heritage» and the PAG «Architecture and sustainable development» which develop throughout the school year and involve 11 schools (from primary to high school) of Aube.
Since mid-November, 80 students, in groups of up to 15, have been received. Thus, the CP, CE2, CM1 and CM2 of the school of Villéchetif discovered the sculpture of the XVIe century, as part of the Globalized Artistic Project "I discover my heritage". A time of awareness of heritage, history, technology, materials and trades. For an hour, everyone became an investigator for a moment, historian, archaeologist looking for clues to understand the evolution of the cathedral over time.
While the CM students2 of the school of July 14 in Troyes, who will make the drawings that will animate the construction fence, within the framework of a workshop proposed by the Center for UNESCO of Troyes, supervised by the artist Rachel Mathaux, were able to exchange with the sculpture restorer who presented her intervention protocol and work tools.
The visits are the subject of a restitution in class (writing of texts by the students and of reports in image), as for the workshop of December 7, 2021 of the school Jacques de Létin in Troyes, find out more.
I saw branches of carved trees. To fix the pieces of stone we put small pieces of wood or sheep bones. Lucie Jacques de Létin school in Troyes
Global Artistic Projects are with artist residencies one of the two arts and cultural education schemes implemented in school time by the DRAC Grand Est and the Rectorate of Reims to develop a personal relationship with art and culture. A device that is part of the artistic and cultural education pathway student’s.
Globalised artistic projects (PAG): are part of the long term, around 3 axes: knowledge, encounter and practice
The two Aubois AMPs that are based on the construction site of the cathedral of Troyes:
The globalized artistic project I discover my patrimony"
5 primary schools in Troyes, Sainte-Savine, Villechetif, Lusigny-sur-Barse
Partners: Ville et Pays d'art et d'histoire de Troyes, la Maison de l'outil et de la pensée ouvrière, la cité du Vitrail and the DRAC Grand Est
The proglobalised artistic project «Architecture and sustainable development»
Partners: La Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière and La Maison de l'architecture de Champagne-Ardenne and Architects
7 schools (primary, secondary and secondary schools).
Clerey primary school, Preize primary school in Troyes and Achille Payeur in Sainte-Savine.
Lycée des Lombards in Troyes, Collège Camus de la Chapelle Saint-Luc, Lycée Chrestien in Troyes and Collège Delaunay in Lusigny-sur-Bars
Security of the young audience
Fall safety nets of a height of 2 metres have been installed on the platform of the fourth level, where arts and cultural education activities are carried out for school children and young people. A wooden floor has also been added. It reduces the feeling of walking on vacuum.
Treatment of masonry and gable carving of the south tower portal
The biocidal treatment of stones and sculptures is now complete. It has eliminated various algae and lichens.
The selection of stone samples (Chauvigny and Tercé) is validated and the carved elements of the balustrade have been deposited.
After the observations and discoveries made on the site, some questions concerning, for example, the presence of a jewel crowning the gable of the portal; the traces of sculptures on the tympanum; the flowers of buchées lilies or the disflowering of the decoration and the facing on the last two levels have been raised.
The various restoration campaigns of the cathedral have left various joints, some of which are waterproof barriers preventing the circulation of moisture in the wall. All the joints of the facade will be cleared, the operation begins with the terrace at 31 meters and ends with the lower part. (above).
A colour test carried out on the joints before cleaning the stone. At the top, the colour tested, at the bottom, the XIX jointe century (above).
Fabrice Verrac
53 years
Site manager
18 years in the company Chatignoux
Fabrice Verrac joined Chatignoux in 1993 as an apprentice mason. He used to work for big construction companies, moving from concrete to stone: The biggest change for me was dust. Historic monuments are producing a lot of dust».
Its first historic monuments project will already be the Cathedral of Troyes, in 1993, a project begun two years earlier. He will return from 2009-2012, this time as site manager.
Today, he continues the discovery of the monument, still as site manager. I am happy to return to the cathedral, it is a work that we have all been waiting for a long time. The slice is simpler. This is essentially a change of simple stones. I hope to intervene on the rose of the portal of the transept at a future site».
Currently his team is composed of two people, Fabrice being accompanied by an apprentice, but in early December 2021, the team will be completed by stonemasons and new masons.
Organisation du chantier
Projectors, installed on the different levels, allow to work safely, at any time of the day, despite the decrease of brightness.
The closure of the site has been completed and preparatory work for the installation of the umbrella has begun. This umbrella will allow artisans to work away from the elements.
A box, in which the sculptors and the stonemasons will install their equipment and intervene, is being assembled.
The construction panel, visible from the forecourt, is now installed on the fence, it provides general information on the objectives of the site.
The dismantling of the wooden panel, placed along the wall of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, has begun. Transportation of the items to be retained will be completed by next week. Stones used for restoration will soon be stored at this location.
An Economic Recovery Plan Operation
The restoration of the Cathedral of Troyes is an operation financed under the "Cathedrals plan" of the Plan de relance de l'économie to the tune of €1,005,082 out of a total amount 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.