The bells of Notre Dame in Paris rang out this morning for the first time since the devastating fire in 2019 that struck the historic cathedral.
The sound of the eight bells from Notre Dame’s northern belfry echoed a month before the cathedral is set to reopen, following five years of meticulous restoration efforts in the aftermath of the blaze.
“This is a beautiful, significant, and symbolic milestone,” stated Philippe Jost, who oversees the public organization charged with restoring the cathedral amid challenging conditions.
On the evening of April 19, 2019, residents of Paris and viewers worldwide watched in horror as flames consumed the iconic world heritage site and ultimately brought down its spire.
Approximately 250 companies and numerous experts have been engaged in a restoration project costing hundreds of millions of euros.
The bells rang out one by one until all eight chimed in unison, shortly before 9:30 AM Irish time.
“It’s not perfect yet, but we will make it perfect,” remarked Alexandre Gougeon, who is responsible for reinstalling the bells. “This initial test was a success.”
The 2019 fire damaged part of the northern belfry, necessitating restoration work and the removal of the bells to clean them of dust and lead before returning them to their designated spots.
The heaviest bell, known as “Gabriel,” weighs over four tonnes, while the lightest, “Jean-Marie,” weighs 800 kilograms.
A weekend of ceremonies is scheduled to celebrate Notre-Dame’s reopening on December 7-8.
