Since January 2025, the western portal of Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Sens has been undergoing an ambitious restoration project, combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge techniques. Built between 1180 and 1190, this masterpiece of Gothic statuary is now the focus of an exemplary project led by the DRAC Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
A 12th-century Gothic portal regains its clarity thanks to a combination of heritage preservation and cutting-edge technology.
Notable interventions include:
- Laser cleaning: to remove dirt without damaging the original stone;
- Digital grafting: enabling missing fragments to be reconstructed with surgical precision;
- Study of polychromy: highlighting traces of original colors, revealing the medieval appearance of the portal.
Led by Frédéric Didier, chief architect of Historic Monuments, this restoration (100% funded by the State) brings together high-level expertise. The work is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.
At 2BDM architects, we welcome this approach, which clearly illustrates the future of heritage: a dialogue between heritage and innovation, to better pass it on to future generations.
