France unveiled the beautifully restored interior of Notre Dame Cathedral to the world just over a week before the 850-year-old medieval structure is set to reopen following extensive restoration after the catastrophic fire in 2019.
President Emmanuel Macron inspected the restoration during a live televised event, stating that the workers had accomplished the “impossible” by healing a “national wound” from the fire that occurred on April 19, 2019.
While every effort has been made to preserve the cathedral’s original appearance, an international team of designers and architects has crafted a radiant space that leaves a striking impression on visitors.
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“You have achieved what was once deemed impossible,” Mr. Macron told the restoration workers and officials gathered at Notre Dame after touring the cathedral.
“The fire at Notre Dame was a national wound, and you have been its remedy through dedication, hard work, and commitment,” he continued, emphasizing that the cathedral’s reopening would bring a “shock of hope.”
“This is an immense source of pride for the entire nation,” Mr. Macron expressed, voicing hope that the spirit of “fraternity” would prevail.
Mr. Macron visits the newly refurbished Notre Dame spire
The cathedral will once again welcome visitors and worshippers over the weekend of December 7-8, following a complex restoration journey to restore the iconic Paris venue to its former splendor after it was severely damaged by fire on April 19, 2019.
World leaders are anticipated to attend, but the guest list remains undisclosed.
The French president is optimistic that the reopening of Notre Dame will be a significant achievement amidst the current political standoff following early parliamentary elections this summer.
“Sublime,” remarked a visibly delighted Mr. Macron, who was joined by Paris’ Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, the culture minister, the mayor of Paris, and other officials.
“It is much more welcoming now,” he noted, complimenting Notre Dame’s pale-colored stones and stating that everyone involved in the reconstruction should “take pride.”
‘Insane challenge’
Following the tragic fire, Mr. Macron set an ambitious goal to rebuild Notre Dame within five years and to make it “even more beautiful” than before—a target that French authorities claim has been achieved.
The “building site of the century” was a “challenge that many deemed insane,” Mr. Macron stated.
Around 250 companies and hundreds of experts were engaged in restoration efforts, with costs reaching hundreds of millions of euros.
All 2,000 individuals who contributed to the restoration were invited to the event on Friday.
The total cost of the restoration was nearly €700 million.
A fire in 2019 ravaged the medieval landmark
This was funded by 846 million euros in donations received from 150 countries, marking an unprecedented surge of solidarity.
The 19th-century gothic spire has been reconstructed as an exact replica of the original, the stained glass windows have regained their vibrancy, the walls shine after cleaning from fire damage, and a refurbished organ is ready to play once more.
Unseen by visitors, a new mechanism has been installed to protect against future fires, featuring a discreet network of pipes designed to release millions of water droplets in the event of another disaster.
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Notre Dame, which attracted 12 million visitors in 2017, is expected to welcome an even greater number of 14 to 15 million following its reopening, as per church authorities.
French ministers have proposed introducing an entrance fee for tourists, but the Paris diocese has emphasized maintaining free admission as a core principle.
Reopening ceremony
Mr. Macron had initially intended to deliver a speech inside Notre Dame to commemorate the reopening; however, following discussions with the diocese, he is now scheduled to speak only in the forecourt.
By its constitution, France is a secular nation with a strict separation between church and state.
The following day, Sunday, December 8, will see the first mass and the consecration of the new altar.
The newly restored windows in Notre Dame Cathedral
In December 2023, Mr. Macron extended an invitation to Pope Francis for the reopening of the cathedral, but in a surprising announcement in September, the head of the Catholic Church revealed he would not attend.
Instead, the pope plans to make a landmark visit to the French island of Corsica the following weekend.
More than five years later, the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting accidental causes such as a short circuit, a welder’s torch, or a cigarette.
