Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica: a 67-meter scaffolding to restore the four towers

As part of the restoration program for the four towers of the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica in Lyon, the Fourvière Foundation entrusted TUBESCA-COMABI with the design, supply, assembly and dismantling of the scaffolding necessary for this large-scale operation.

The installation reaches a height of 67 meters and requires approximately 100 tons of equipment. It constitutes a tailor-made solution adapted to the technical, heritage, and safety constraints of one of the most visited sites in the Lyon region. Dominating the city for over 130 years, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica is the subject of a major restoration program for its four towers, scheduled between 2026 and 2028.

To support this operation, COMTE, a historical partner of TUBESCA-COMABI and a specialist in cut stone, approached the company from the preparatory phases to design suitable access solutions.

TUBESCA-COMABI's selection is based on over 70 years of expertise in the design and manufacture of scaffolding in France, as well as a thorough knowledge of the site. The company has already worked on the basilica on several occasions, notably during the chapel renovations in 2009 and the removal of the statue of Saint Mary in 2008.

A customized technical solution for a complex architecture

The project is organized in two successive phases, with two towers restored at each stage. Each tower is equipped with specific scaffolding incorporating a construction elevator to facilitate supplies and work at height.

Faced with multiple constraints, octagonal geometry of the towers, decorative elements, restricted access, co-activity, exposure to wind and permanent presence of the public, the teams designed a fully adapted solution.

To meet these constraints, an M368 multidirectional external foot scaffold equipped with approach consoles was deployed, allowing it to adapt precisely to the complex geometry of the towers while ensuring safe access to the different intervention areas.

At the summit, near the spires, a 17-meter-high, self-supporting and self-stabilizing scaffold was designed and installed, with limited anchoring at its base to preserve the structure's integrity. This configuration allows access to all areas requiring restoration while minimizing interaction with the monument.

The structure includes, in particular:

An M368 multidirectional outdoor foot scaffold equipped with approach brackets;
Two construction elevators, one per tower;
A self-supporting and self-stable summit structure 17 meters high, with limited anchorages at its base to preserve the integrity of the structure;
23 levels of work on each tower;
8 additional levels at the arrow level;
Specific marking and safety devices designed to protect visitors throughout the duration of the works.

A device designed using a customized and innovative engineering approach

According to Jean-Baptiste Spinicci, Key Account Director for the Building sector at TUBESCA-COMABI: "While the M368 multidirectional scaffolding system is a proven solution, its deployment on the Fourvière towers required a specific study and significant technical adaptations."

The teams carried out in-depth studies and dedicated calculation notes to ensure the stability of the whole in all phases of the construction project.

The added value of the operation lies in the ability to adapt a standardized solution to a complex architecture, while maintaining a maximum level of security and ensuring the preservation of heritage.

Preserving heritage and ensuring public safety

The daily presence of visitors is one of the key features of this project. Throughout the construction, work is carried out in a strictly fenced and secured area to ensure a clear separation between the work being done and the public.

In order to limit the impact of the works on the number of visitors to the site, logistical operations are planned from the early hours of the day and accompanied by appropriate signage.

Each tower required more than a month of assembly, demonstrating the level of technical expertise required to work on such an iconic historical monument as the Basilica of Fourvière.