Notre-Dame de Paris Stones Repurposed for Fundraising

 

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. As part of a fundraising campaign, around fifty original stones from the cathedral’s historic facade are being raffled to support the restoration of endangered religious heritage sites across 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. 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.

notre-dame paris stone
image courtesy Fondation du patrimoine | web banner © Yuliia Kucherenko

 

 

funds to contribute to Preservation Efforts across france

 

To participate in the Notre-Dame de Paris raffle, individuals must be at least eighteen years old and donate a minimum of €40 ($43 USD) via the Fondation du Patrimoine’s website by April 4th, 2025. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on April 15th, 2025, marking six years since the fire that nearly destroyed the beloved cathedral. To maintain the integrity of the initiative, winners are prohibited from selling, gifting, or trading their stones.

 

The Fondation du Patrimoine, a key player in the restoration of Notre-Dame, has raised €228 million ($247 million USD) from 236,000 donors as part of the cathedral’s reconstruction efforts. However, the broader goal of the current campaign extends beyond Notre-Dame itself. France has about fifty thousand religious sites, with five thousand requiring urgent restoration. Funds raised from the raffle will contribute to preserving these historic structures for future generations.

notre-dame paris stone
outside the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, image courtesy Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris

 

 

Following years of restoration, the Notre-Dame Cathedral officially reopened in December 2024. The restoration involved more than 2,000 skilled craftspeople and the replacement of 14,000 square feet of stone. 8,000 organ pipes were cleaned, 1,500 oak pews were crafted, and a towering 88-foot oak tree was felled for reconstruction materials. The project demonstrates the dedication to preserving France’s architectural and cultural heritage.

 

The fundraising campaign further shows the importance of protecting both the Notre-Dame cathedral and the numerous lesser-known religious landmarks throughout France. President Emmanuel Macron initiated the national preservation program in 2023, aiming to restore 1,000 religious sites over four years. The first year alone raised €16 million, enabling restoration work on 100 selected sites.

 

 

project info:

 

organization: Fondation du patrimoine

competition start: April 4th, 2025

winners announced: April 15th, 2025