The world-renowned architectural marvel and UNESCO World Heritage site, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was hailed as an epic masterpiece, suffered severe damage in a sudden and devastating fire in 2019. After five and a half years of reconstruction work, it now proudly stands once again on the banks of the Seine River. Last Saturday (December 7th), the Notre-Dame Cathedral held a grand reopening ceremony, and officially opened its doors to the public the following day (December 8th).
Since its construction in the 13th century, the Notre-Dame Cathedral has stood as the first entirely Gothic church in European history, embodying classical elegance and beauty. It has deep connections to French history, literature, and music, serving as a symbol of Catholic faith and the spirit of France, and a sanctuary for the French people.
However, on April 15th, 2019, a blaze that lasted nearly 15 hours mercilessly consumed the iconic spire and much of the wooden roof of the cathedral. Fortunately, the main structure of the building survived, along with the rescue of many precious artifacts and artworks stored within the cathedral, including the sparkling rose windows, the grand organ, relics such as the Crown of Thorns, the mantle of Saint Louis, the “Descent from the Cross” sculpture, as well as a portion of the Holy Nail and a fragment of the True Cross from the crucifixion of Jesus.
Following the tragedy, French President Macron pledged to restore the cathedral within five years, aiming to make it “even more beautiful” while preserving its original essence.
After meticulous restoration work over five and a half years, the cathedral’s spire, rib vaults, flying buttresses, painted decorations, stained glass windows, and gargoyles have been largely restored to their former glory. The newly restored soaring ceilings and rejuvenated off-white stone sculptures undoubtedly impress visitors. The total cost of this renovation project is estimated to be around 700 million euros.
However, the Notre-Dame Cathedral officials emphasize that the reopening does not mark the conclusion of restoration efforts. The complete restoration and installation of stained glass windows are expected to be completed by 2026, while reinforcement work on the flying buttresses and vaults, as well as restoration of the choir and the treasury room, will continue until around 2030.
The Gothic stained glass windows of the cathedral, particularly the famous rose windows on the west, south, and north facades, are considered some of the most renowned features of this grand church, with a history dating back to the 13th century. When sunlight filters through these stained glass windows, the interior of the cathedral glows brilliantly, portraying scenes from the Bible and evoking a sense of reverence. Remarkably, all three of these rose windows survived the 2019 fire, standing as a testament to the resilience and beauty of this historic masterpiece.