As spring returns, our ruined transept sees the resurgence of long-lost elements: the arches. Only one remained, on the belfry side, but the other pillars remained as if orphaned. With the formwork erected in January, other stone bridges are now being built to join one wall to another. From the capitals, the keystones are laid one after the other. The bow’s sturdiness and aesthetic appeal call for meticulous attention to detail.
Walls are also going up in parallel. Their masonry is criss-crossed with that of the arch, including imposing boulders that act as buttresses. The capitals at the top of the following pillars are also being cleaned and replaced.
Then it’s time for the second arc to take shape. Completion is scheduled for Easter. But there’s another structure below: the north pillar, missing from the last arch. Its reconstruction also includes the wall of the adjoining absidiole, which was partially destroyed.
The pillar and final bow will require many more hours of work. However, one of the next steps is already taking shape: the framework.
