The iconic landmark of France, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, has undergone a five-and-a-half-year restoration and will reopen to the public next week. The Gothic-style cathedral, with a history of 900 years, suffered a major fire in 2019, resulting in severe damage to the roof and spire. The news of its reopening has filled the French people with excitement.
On November 29, French President Macron and his wife visited the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, expressing gratitude to those who donated for the restoration work and those who participated in the restoration of the cathedral. Approximately 1,300 workers were involved in the restoration of the cathedral.
The weather was clear on that day, with sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows into the vast cathedral, and the creamy limestone walls were cleaned to a fresh new look, leaving a deep impression on Macron and his wife.
Macron vowed to complete the restoration work within five years after the 2019 fire, and that goal has now been largely achieved.
Through a massive reconstruction project, the 12th-century cathedral, spire, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, stained glass windows, and grotesques have been restored to their former glory.
Gone are the massive holes in the vaulted ceiling that were torn apart by the fire, and the charred debris has been cleared. New stones have been carefully assembled to repair and fill the wounds on the cathedral walls. Exquisite golden angels once again hang high on the reconstructed ceiling.
The cathedral’s bright creamy limestone walls have been cleaned to remove not only the dust left by the fire but also centuries of accumulated grime during the construction process.
This contrasts sharply with the night of April 15, 2019, when audiences in France and around the world witnessed the roof and spire of the cathedral engulfed in flames and collapsing in a devastating fire, threatening the two main towers as well, fortunately spared from the blaze.
Over the past five years, thousands of expert craftsmen have used traditional methods to restore, repair, or replace all destroyed or damaged parts.
The craftsmen first used powerful vacuum cleaners to remove the toxic dust released when the lead roof of the cathedral melted in the fire. Then, a layer of latex was sprayed on all surfaces, which was removed after a few days to take away the dirt. Cleaning gel was also used on some painted walls to remove years of accumulated grime, revealing their bright colors once again.
The carpenters worked by hand like their medieval counterparts, cutting down massive oak trees to make beams for rebuilding the roof and spire. These beams bear the marks of the craftsmen’s handmade work, with indentations from the hand axes.
Around 2,000 oak trees were felled to rebuild the cathedral’s roof. The framework of the roof is dense and complex, referred to by the craftsmen as a “forest.”
People around the world saw the near-destruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in the fire that almost engulfed it in flames back in 2019 through television or the internet. After the restoration work began, many people generously donated.
Macron’s office estimates that donations from around the world total more than 840 million euros (approximately 882 million US dollars), with about 140 million euros (approximately 150 million US dollars) still to be invested in this building.
France plans to hold a reopening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral on the evening of December 7, inviting dignitaries and world leaders, followed by several days of special masses to celebrate the reopening and thank those who helped save and rebuild the cathedral.
The list of guests for the reopening ceremony has yet to be announced, but there is speculation that US President-elect Trump is among the invitees, along with other heads of state, members of royalty, and celebrities.
Sources have indicated that current US First Lady Jill Biden will attend the ceremony, while Trump has not responded.
During the ceremony on December 7, Macron will deliver a speech in the front yard of the cathedral. The following day’s opening mass will mark its return to public life.
In the first week of reopening, Notre Dame Cathedral will be open until 10 p.m., with free tickets required for entry. Worship services will resume fully on December 16.
Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich expects the number of visitors to Notre Dame to quickly surpass pre-fire levels, anticipating 15 million visitors annually.
While the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral ring once again, the scaffolding outside the great Cathedral has left some Parisians puzzled.
During Macron’s visit to the cathedral, the construction site outside the cathedral was still active, with tall cranes in operation and temporary facilities for workers such as showers and changing rooms still in place.
The head of the reconstruction work stated that although the interior will open to visitors and worshippers for the first time on December 8, the scaffolding at the base of the newly restored spire will remain until 2025, with the scaffolding on the east side also remaining for three more years.
Some Parisians find this puzzling and question whether the early reopening of the cathedral is to please Macron. Macron’s second and final term will end in 2027.
However, some believe that Notre Dame Cathedral, as a famous medieval monument passed down through the ages, had never ceased to undergo internal and external renovations even before the fire in 2019, so it is not strange that some parts of the complex are still under construction during the reopening for visitors.
(This article was compiled with reference to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters)