14 March 2025
Preserving a Historic Landmark: The Restoration of Saint-Pierre Cathedral
Last December, Crézé, a specialist in artistic metalwork, completed its final deliveries for Rennes' Saint-Pierre Cathedral. Over two years, the team of artisans based in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande worked on various elements of the project, applying their expertise to materials they frequently use, such as iron and steel. A look back at this Rennes-based restoration work.
The Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Rennes, as we see it today, was completed in the 19th century. Like any cherished landmark, it requires careful upkeep to maintain its grandeur—particularly its façades. We were honoured to contribute to this effort. Our artisanal metalworking company has a long-standing relationship with this historic monument, having worked on it for over 35 years. One of our most notable collaborations took place in 2019, when we designed and installed new wrought iron gates to safeguard the cathedral’s treasure altarpiece.
In September 2022, we were once again privileged to be selected by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Brittany (DRAC) to take part in a significant restoration project. This initiative focused on improving drainage, restoring façades, and repairing the roof. Restoring historic monuments is a core part of our expertise—an opportunity for our team to showcase their craftsmanship in metalwork and locksmithing.
Key Restoration Work Undertaken
As one can see from the diagram below, our recent work at Saint-Pierre Cathedral covered the following areas:
Map of the Cathedral floor
Western Façade
- Restoring the North-West and South-West portals
- Designing and installing temporary gates at both entrances
- Repairing cast-iron dolphin ornaments
Renovating the circular glass skylight
During the restoration of the cathedral dome’s glasswork: installing the new panes
Top-down view of the restored dome and glasswork
Eastern Façade
- Restoring protective window grilles
Protective grilles for the windows on the Sacristy side
Restored defensive railings on the Treasury side
Carrying out essential drainage improvements
- Restoring the perimeter grille
- Refurbishing the courtyard gate
- Installing a temporary gate
- Restoring the courtyard cross
Restored cross
North-East Courtyard
- Crafting a new decorative grille
- Installing a new entrance gate
Work began in mid-September 2022 and was successfully completed in December. A team of six skilled professionals from Crézé was dedicated to bringing this project to fruition.
What Sets Crézé Apart for a Project Like This?
Our reputation in heritage restoration is built on years of experience working on historic structures. More than just expertise, we hold a Qualibat 4493 certification, a mark of excellence in artistic ironwork. This certification was a key requirement for securing the contract.
Another factor in our success is our ability to collaborate with top-tier specialists. For this project, we worked with rope-access experts from the Macé company to restore the dome’s glasswork. Strong partnerships are invaluable in complex restoration projects like this one.
Restoring a monument of this significance calls for a diverse range of metalworking skills. Our expertise spans the fabrication and restoration of wrought iron gates, advanced sandblasting and metallisation techniques (in partnership with ASMR Thermolaquage), and the intricate process of dismantling structures in challenging environments, such as the cathedral’s dome. We also carried out 24-carat gold leaf gilding on the fronton cross of the North-West portal, in partnership with Atelier du Doreur, and meticulously recreated antique architectural details.
In summary, working on a historic monument—under the supervision of the Olivier Weets architecture agency (Chief Architect for Historic Monuments) and on behalf of the DRAC—requires adhering to strict craftsmanship standards. This is something Crézé has extensive experience in.
