Carrières du Hainaut stone used in the restoration of Notre-Dame of Paris
The list of Belgian craftsmen who helped restore Notre-Dame of Paris to its former glory is impressive. After a restoration company, a landscape architecture firm, and a renowned photographer-video artist-cinematographer, we now turn the spotlight on the authentic Belgian bluestone from Carrières du Hainaut in Soignies, Wallonia.
On 15 April 2019, onlookers wept as the iconic spire of Paris' Notre-Dame crumbled like a house of cards in the devastating fire. The nave, and particularly the choir, bore the brunt of the damage.
Master builders were entrusted with the task of recreating this majestic place of worship within five years, adhering strictly to the original materials and techniques. A monumental task, brought to a successful conclusion. Carrières du Hainaut in Soignies was the natural choice for the tiling. Authentic Belgian bluestone is not only resistant and durable, but also slightly porous, making it similar to the pre-fire stone. No less than 800 m² was arranged in a checkerboard pattern, alternating with Lunel marble from a quarry near Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Barring another disaster, the stone from our quarry could still be here in 2,000 years, says one of the quarry's architects.
This exquisite stone is already showcased in renowned sites like the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Madison Square subway station in New York, and, from April to October 2025, in the Belgian pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka. Each of these is a calling card that truly speaks for itself.