Groupe Novelty played a pivotal role in the audiovisual integration for the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, following its extensive reconstruction after the devastating fire in 2019. The cathedral officially reopened on December 7, 2024, marking the completion of one of the most ambitious restoration projects in modern history.
Novelty Paris, appointed as the lead integrator, managed the majority of the integration work, with support from its sister company De Préférence for acoustic optimization. The project involved installing a sophisticated audiovisual infrastructure, including sound systems, live audio recording, video delivery, and remote video production capabilities for KTO, the French Catholic television channel.
A full-fibre infrastructure was deployed throughout the cathedral, supporting both audio and visual workflows with industry-standard protocols like Milan-AVB, Dante, and NDI. Custom mounting solutions were essential to preserve the historic architecture, and speaker placement was optimized using precise techniques.
The project also featured the world’s first installation of Sennheiser’s Spectera, a wideband bidirectional digital wireless system, simplifying microphone and signal management. The broadcasting setup included Panasonic cameras and switchers to enhance live streaming to KTO’s headquarters.
Groupe Novelty also provided the entire AV setup for the grand reopening, which included projection mapping, power distribution, lighting, and staging. The reopening ceremony featured the ringing of the cathedral’s bells, a symbolic door-opening by the archbishop of Paris, and the entrance of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The event highlighted the collaboration and expertise required to deliver a historic show, with a tribute to the firefighters and artisans who contributed to the cathedral’s restoration.
Source: Press Release