International
Paris’s Gothic Jewel Notre-Dame To Reopen Five Years After Fire
The world will get its first glimpse of the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral on Friday as French President Emmanuel Macron leads a televised tour celebrating the iconic landmark’s imminent re-opening.
Five-and-a-half years after the catastrophic fire of April 2019, the Gothic masterpiece in Paris has undergone a €700m (£582m) renovation, transforming its interior and preserving its historical grandeur.
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The restoration promises a breathtaking experience, with a revitalized brightness replacing the once-gloomy atmosphere.
President Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron and Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, will inaugurate a series of ceremonial events, culminating in an official reopening on December 7 and the first Catholic Mass the following day.
During the tour, the president will address approximately 1,300 artisans and craftsmen in the cathedral’s nave, expressing gratitude for their extraordinary work.
Among the restoration highlights are the massive timber roof beams, which replace the medieval structure destroyed by the fire.
While details of the revamped interior have been closely guarded, insiders describe it as “awe-inspiring,” with the cut stone’s immaculate whiteness revealing a brilliance unseen for centuries.
The fire in April 2019 shocked the world, with dramatic images of flames engulfing the cathedral and the 19th-century spire collapsing.
The blaze, which raged for 15 hours and required 600 firefighters to control, left the wooden roof beams, parts of the stone vaulting, and the spire in ruins.
The cathedral’s structure, however, was miraculously preserved, preventing a complete collapse.
The cause of the fire remains uncertain, with theories including an electrical fault or a cigarette left by a worker.
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The cathedral was undergoing external renovations at the time, and safety concerns had already been raised about its deteriorating condition.
Despite the immense damage, the meticulous restoration has returned Notre-Dame to its former glory while enhancing its splendour, ready to inspire future generations.
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