Inside Groupe Novelty’s work on Notre-Dame’s revival

After years of restoration, Notre-Dame de Paris reopened with Groupe Novelty managing the AV systems and worldwide live broadcast of the historic event

Images by Hugues de Beauschesne

On 15 April 2019, a devastating fire tore through Notre-Dame de Paris, destroying the spire, roof and key features of the building. After five years of reconstruction, the cathedral reopened, with Groupe Novelty leading audiovisual integration. Novelty Paris managed the project, while De Préférence handled fine-tuning and acoustic optimisation.

Led in part by David Créteur from Novelty Paris, the installation introduced a full-fibre infrastructure with a dual spine-leaf network topology that supports both audio and visual workflows. Protocols such as Milan-AVB, Dante and NDI ensured synchronised, low-latency performance.

To preserve the cathedral’s structure, all AV equipment had to be discreetly mounted. Every fixture required approval from heritage authorities, with custom, non-invasive mounts were developed to avoid direct contact with fragile features. Speaker positions were also carefully calculated for height, angle and rotation, blending with the Gothic architecture. In total, the team installed 128 colour-matched L-Acoustics speakers.

The installation brought together technology from several leading manufacturers. Amplification was handled by L-Acoustics’ LA-2Xi and LA7-16i models, supported by DiGiCo mic preamps and Sennheiser’s new Spectera system. Additionally, eight Panasonic cameras, two 4K switchers and ten NEC screens powered the live broadcast for KTO.

Upon completion, Groupe Novelty were also tasked with delivering AV equipment for the grand reopening of the cathedral, attended by dignitaries from around the world. After three weeks of installation and two days of rehearsals, the ceremony began with the ringing of the cathedral’s bells for the first time since 2019.

“This integration was as much about precision and respect as it was about performance,” said Créteur. “Working within such an iconic and architecturally complex site required bespoke engineering that honoured its heritage while delivering cutting-edge technology.”

Ultimately, Notre-Dame’s renewal showed the public how modern AV can support worship services while simultaneously preserving the cathedral’s atmosphere.

Find out more at groupe-novelty.com