Montreal Blacksmith’s Role in Notre-Dame’s Stunning Rebirth After Devastating Fire
Montreal’s Mathieu Collette reflects on his contribution to Notre-Dame’s restoration, feeling a deep connection to the historic cathedral as it reopens.
Montreal, Canada, Notre-Dame, Blacksmithing, Restoration
MONTREAL: Five years back, Notre-Dame Cathedral caught fire, sending smoke billowing over Paris. It was a devastating sight as the iconic structure was left in ruins.
But guess what? The cathedral is reopening this Saturday! And two blacksmiths from Canada played a part in bringing it back to life.
Mathieu Collette, a blacksmith from Montreal, won’t make it to Paris right away, but he’s thrilled to have contributed to this historic project. He said, “I believe I have a little place in paradise now.”
After the fire, Collette got a call from a fellow blacksmith in France, inviting him to help with the rebuild. Over four months in 2022, he led a team of seven young blacksmiths to forge 60 axes. These tools were essential for carpenters working on the cathedral’s roof.
Collette explained that experts can identify the original tools used by examining the materials. For the roof frame, they discovered three types of axes were needed. “Every time an axe was finished, it went straight to the carpenter,” he said. They were busy, cranking out axes daily.
Collette has been a blacksmith for over 30 years. He moved to France in 1994 to learn from the best and returned to Quebec in 1998 to start his own foundry. He’s visited Notre-Dame many times, always amazed by its craftsmanship.
Another Canadian blacksmith, Nicholas Erb from Toronto, also contributed, but Collette didn’t get to meet him during the project.
After the fire in April 2019, French President Macron promised that Notre-Dame would rise again in five years. This ambitious goal inspired global support, with donations nearing $1 billion.
Collette praised the effort, saying, “Everything went right and on time. This is incredible.”
In May 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau visited Paris, offering Canadian materials for the restoration. He emphasized the importance of preserving this piece of world history.
As the reopening approaches, invite-only ceremonies will take place, attended by dignitaries, including Quebec’s Premier. Security will be tight, keeping tourists away from the cathedral’s island location.
This report was first published on December 6, 2024.