The stained-glass windows of Notre Dame glow once again after being restored nearly five years after the blazing fire nearly burnt the medieval monument down. It has taken hundreds of artisans to restore the cathedral within a short amount of time. These craftsmen are a part of Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France, commonly known as Compagnons du Devoir, a French organization specializing in traditional medieval techniques like stone carving and iron forging.
A huge army of skilled artisans was required to restore Notre Dame, among whom 100 stonecutters, 150 carpenters, and 200 roofers were needed to repair the church. The Compagnous du Devoir took over the job and was quite successful in restoring the cathedral.
Who are Compagnons du Devoir?
The Compagnons du Devoir is a secretive French organization of craftsmen and artisans protected by UNESCO. The organization dates back to medieval times when Compagnons were appointed to build churches and castles in France. These craftspeople go through rigorous training to attain the highest level of mastery, which the organization expects from its members.
Compagnons du Devoir currently consists of 45,000 craftsmen and artisans. These members usually fall into five different groups depending on the principal material of their work: stone, wood, metal, leather and textile, and food. Their professions include stonecutter, mason, painter, blacksmith, winemaker, and baker, among others.
Some of the well-known Compagnons include Edmond Le Martin, a blacksmith who hosted several travelers in Dunes; Joel Robuchon, who became the official chef of Compagnon du Tour de France; and Eugene Milon, a carpenter who was a close collaborator of Gustave Eiffel and was a site foreman of the Eiffel Tower.
The Compagnons were previously banned by the National Assembly under the Le Chapelier Law of 1791, which was later overturned in 1864. Aged between 16 and 25, majorly men but with a growing number of women, the members live in a Compagnon house and are managed by a woman often described as a mother or mistress.
There are more than 80 Compagnon houses across France containing five to almost a hundred people in a single house, depending on its size. Their training varies from 3 to 10 years depending on the "metier" they have chosen and includes a "Tour de France", where the members travel around France to learn and master new skills from fully fledged Compagnons.
Each of the Compagnon played a predominant role in bringing back Notre Dame to its glory. Olivia Salaun, one of the craftspeople of the organization, in an interview with Bill Whitaker, a CBS News correspondent, revealed that she worked throughout the year to restore an intricate marble artwork called "marquetry," originally created in the 17th century.
"Salaun showed Whitaker a specific spot on the floor where a piece of marble had been knocked out. She and her colleagues carved a new piece to fit the gap perfectly and make it appear as though it had always been there," CBS News reported.
The roof of the Notre Dame was renovated altogether. Philomene Thivet Mazzantti, a teenage boy who spent his year working as a metalworker, helped to make the lead ornamentation on the cathedral's roof. Another restorer named Diana Castillo helped restore the damaged paintings of Notre Dame and bring back these masterpieces.
"Many of the achievements, like the new spire and roof, are massive. Notre Dame's huge bells were removed after the fire for cleaning and repair. They were tested a few weeks ago, marking the first time the famous bells rang in five years. The cathedral's organ, the largest in France with its 8,000 pipes, was also removed, repaired, and reinstalled," reported by CBS News.
Notre Dame hosts first Sunday mass after renovation since 2019 fire
Compagnons du Devoir was appointed to restore Notre Dame within five years, which was believed to be an impossible task; however, the craftsmen and artisans did an immaculate job renovating the medieval cathedral. The restoration effort cost nearly $750 million, funded by donations.
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The newly restored cathedral held its first mass on Sunday, led by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, along with 150 bishops and 100 priests. French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the mass with US President Donald Trump in the front row as the guest of honor.
"Whether you are here in person in the cathedral or in front of a screen, including perhaps under the rain, I greet you with intense emotion," Ulrich told at the Sunday mass. "This morning, the pain of April 15, 2019, has been erased," he added, referring to the devastating fire of 2019 that came close to destroying the cathedral.
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