I’m hoping SF members with a NYT subscription can post the full article. For those who love a tale of French bureaucracy trying to stifle a splendid local initiative, this is a classic. Spoiler alert - the bureaucrats appear to have been put back in their box by Rachida Dati, the Culture Minister… the cathedral concerned is in the Cantal.
I was recently reading about this money-making venture and trying to think if we could do something similar to help pay for important works in our village church.
Sadly, the way up into our belfry is extremely difficult and trying to take hams up there while clinging for dear life to the meagre handholds… just doesn’t sound like a good idea 
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Reading between the lines, I would bet that the organisation involved in trying to shut down the cured hams in belfry operation is the local chapter of the DRAC (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles). My co-volunteers at the local chateau restoration project here in Seine Maritime almost go up in smoke at the mere mention of DRAC. They are a by-word for obstructive, unimaginative, bureaucratic foot dragging actions, as judged by experienced historians who deal with them here. Their dwindling lack of available financial resources - which isn’t their fault- also limits what they can actually positively do in terms of funding.
As I recall, it was someone doing a routine inspection, who “sounded the alarm” but no matter who, I can’t find fault with that.
let’s face it, ham-drying is not a usual activity in a bell tower and there will be questions which need answers…
First thing which sprang into my mind was “how do they keep the pigeons away from the ham” as we have a real Pigeon problem here 
Much better for the “ham drying” to be properly assessed for Food protocol and H&Safety… and deemed “not dangerous and delicious”.
and I believe this special ham is served to diners at the Elysee… so it has some high-flying patrons 
This is from November 2024…
Perhaps they could diversify into belfry-cured pigeon?
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I posted a free link to the NYT article a few days ago
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Apologies - must have overlooked that thread, thanks for posting
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