Pinault, Arnault families pledge 300 M euros for Notre-Dame
Nobody values – and understands – legacy like the French.
Which is why, even as the NotreDame Cathedral burned, two French houses built on the very same ethos of legacy and reverence to heritage and culture, pledged 300 million euros for its rebuilding.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Francois Henri Pinault, chair of Kering, which owns, among others Gucci and YSL, and who also leads Groupe Artémis, owner of fine arts auction house Christie's, wrote: “My father [François Pinault] and I have decided to release as of now from the funds of Artemis a sum of 100 million euros to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame.”
A few moments later, the LVMH Group posted a statement on its own Twitter account, doubling the initial pledge of Kering.
“In the wake of this national tragedy, the Arnault family and the LVMH Group pledge their support for #NotreDame. They will donate a total of 200 million euros to the fund for reconstruction of this architectural work, which is an integral part of the history of France.”
Construction sector pitches in
Construction group Vinci called on all building companies in France to join forces to repair Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral in an “industry-wide skills sponsorship drive.”
The Fondation du Patrimoine (French heritage foundation) could possibly lead the effort, so as to begin work and restore the cathedral as quickly as possible following Monday's devastating fire, said Vinci.
“The partial destruction of NotreDame is an unqualified tragedy. The 13th century wooden beams holding up the roof will never be replaced. But the part of Notre-Dame that has survived the fire must be safeguarded,” the company said in a statement.
Rival construction group Bouygues also said it was ready to join a “skills sponsorship” drive to restore the cathedral.
Separately, the Bouygues company's CEO Martin Bouygues and his brother Olivier said they will personally donate 10 million euros ($11.30 million) jointly to the cathedral repairs fund.
Vinci has expertise in heritage preservation since its sponsorship operation restoring the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles about 15 years ago.
It also recently renovated Paris' historic 'Penthemont' Abbey that has become the site of the new headquarters of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also said Tuesday that the city would unlock 50 million euros, and would propose holding an international donors' conference in the coming weeks to coordinate the pledges to restore the gothic architectural masterpiece.
EU support
The devastation of Paris's NotreDame Cathedral is blow to all Europe and all Europe will contribute to its rebuilding, leaders of the European Union declared on Tuesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“Europe has been wounded. France has been wounded. Paris has been wounded,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told lawmakers, promising EU “solidarity.”
The Brexit-supporting British Conservative leader in the parliament, Syed Kamall, said it was time to put aside politics: "I hope we can all come together, whether British, European or outside the Europe, come together and do our bit in that rebuilding."
Parliament President Antonio Tajani called on the 751 members to donate their day's salary. Speaking in French, he said: "As a former resident of Paris, as an Italian, as a European, my heart is wounded, as are all of our hearts, by what happened yesterday in Paris." (With a report from Reuters)