a protection plan put in place for religious heritage

Piping next to the gargoyles. From now on, in Amiens (Somme), the 21st century rubs shoulders with the 15th. Because in the event of a fire, the watering by the firefighters will arrive more quickly at the top of the building. Pipes and an escape ladder adorn one of the wings of the cathedral. A somewhat conspicuous ladder, but no longer a question of coquetry, priority to safety. The security plan for cathedrals is an envelope of 52 million euros, in particular to ensure the partitioning of the attics of religious buildings and the equipment with thermal cameras.

Cathedrals and churches are threatened

To date, 62 cathedrals are up to fire standards, three others need to be equipped urgently. The cathedrals are not the only ones threatened. In recent years, several churches have been engulfed in flames. In October, the former presbytery of the parish of Raismes (Nord), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, went up in smoke. In September, it was the church of Fleury d’Aude (Aude), which was ravaged by arson. In the church of Voutezac in Corrèze, the restoration will take several more months to make people forget the flames of January 2021.