The Notre Dame de Paris is offering a unique opportunity for history enthusiasts and preservation supporters - the chance to own a piece of the iconic monument.
Stones from the medieval church’s facade are up for grabs as part of a fundraiser to help restore other religious heritage sites in France.
The stones, which were deemed too damaged to be reintegrated into the cathedral after the devastating fire in 2019, have been repurposed as fundraising artifacts, reports DesignBoom. Weighing around 800 grams each (1.8 pounds), these limestone fragments are engraved with an image of Notre Dame’s facade, symbolizing the resilience of the historic structure and its cultural significance.
“I am delighted that, through the donation of these stones, Notre Dame is contributing to the restoration of the religious heritage of our villages,” Philippe Jost, the president of Rebâtir Notre Dame, told Le Parisien.
Fifty lucky winners of the 7 cm (2.75 inches) cut limestone cubes will be the new owners of the keepsakes engraved with the cathedral’s silhouette and the words “Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris” (“Rebuild Notre-Dame”), a message relaying the monument’s resilience.
The raffle, running until 4 April, requires participants to donate a minimum of €40 ($43) via France’s Heritage Foundation website. And in a full circle moment, the randomly selected winners will be announced on 15 April, six years to the day since the fire.
Today's Articles
Zero Emissions: In good news for people and planet, a new process can make steel that is completely carbon neutral.
VW and Rivian: New multi-billion dollar deal looks to be good news for everyone wanting more affordable electric vehicles.
The Magic of Mushrooms: Danielle Stevenson uses fungi to transform ugly, toxic brownfield sites into thriving meadows.
World's Shortest IQ Test: It will reveal how average your intelligence is in just 3 questions. Why not give it a go?