Ten days before the official reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was heavily damaged in a fire in April 2019, restored footage of the cathedral was shown to the public.
The scaffolding that had hidden the cathedral’s porch was removed, revealing a newly restored, light-stone-covered area. Macron was shown plans for the square in front of the cathedral, which will be landscaped with 160 trees.
Over the past 5.5 years, the 96-meter spire destroyed in the fire has been fully rebuilt, with a new golden rooster weather vane containing capsules with the names of those who helped restore the cathedral. The nave and frame were reconstructed using medieval techniques and 2,000 handpicked oak trees. A large-scale fire suppression system was also installed.
The interior has been entirely updated, with the stone walls and ceilings cleaned of centuries-old grime, now appearing light beige instead of gray. The organ’s 8,000 pipes were cleaned and reassembled, and the bells were restored, with the largest weighing over 4 tons. New chairs and liturgical furnishings, including a bronze baptistery and a golden cross, were also added.
More than 250 companies and 2,000 workers across France contributed to the restoration. Donations totaling 846 million euros funded the work, which will continue with a second phase starting in late 2025, focusing on the porch and surrounding areas.
Notable attendees will include U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, European monarchs, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, among other international dignitaries and religious figures.
The opening ceremony will include the blessing of a new altar and organ performance, with public visits beginning on December 8. The fire on April 15, 2019, caused the collapse of the cathedral’s spire and destroyed its 800-year-old wooden roof beams. Over 800 firefighters battled the blaze for hours.
