The individual spearheading the reconstruction efforts of Notre-Dame de Paris, which suffered a devastating fire three years ago, has tragically passed away during a hiking expedition in the Pyrenees.
General Jean-Louis Georgelin’s untimely demise was initially reported by French media and subsequently confirmed by President Emmanuel Macron.
In a statement shared on the social media platform Twitter, President Macron expressed, “The nation loses one of its great soldiers. France, one of its great servants. And Notre-Dame, the architect of its revival.”
The renowned cathedral, an iconic symbol, has remained closed for restoration since an April 2019 fire ravaged its roof and brought down its majestic spire, leaving Parisians and the global community in disbelief.
General Georgelin, a 74-year-old army veteran, assumed the pivotal role of overseeing the cathedral’s restoration following the tragic fire. Authorities have set their sights on reopening Notre-Dame by 2024, coinciding with the hosting of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
The restoration project aims to return Notre-Dame to its former glory, including the resurrection of the 96-meter (315-foot) spire originally designed by the esteemed architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-1800s.
