Five years after flames engulfed the cathedral, Notre-Dame will finally open its doors again.
In 2019, Notre-Dame cathedral went up in flames for reasons still unknown. After five years, the restoration of the beloved Paris landmark is complete, thanks to millions in donations and thousands of skilled artisans, carpenters, and other specialists.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron toured Notre-Dame on live TV, giving the public its first look inside the cathedral since the fire.
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“You did it. And it’s an immense source of pride for the entire nation. I’m infinitely grateful to you, France is infinitely grateful to you,” Macron said, addressing all the workers who had a hand in restoring the historic monument.
The Process of Restoration
According to Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris, restoring Notre-Dame to its former state took an estimated €700 million ($737 million). The project received €846 million ($891 million) in donations from 340,000 donors in 150 countries, with the excess going to the restoration of other monuments.
One of the most striking differences since the restoration are the cathedral’s luminous walls. After the fire, the limestone blocks had to be cleaned, removing centuries of dust and grime and appearing brand new.
Some of it had to be replaced with limestone sourced in quarries in northern France. BBC reported that experts examined small features in the original stone—like fossils—to determine the geographical origin.
The wooden roof was the main victim of the fire. All 100 meters of 800-year-old timbers did not survive and so they were replaced with oak from the forests of France. Thankfully, architect Remi Fromont studied the wooden frame for his university thesis, aiding the carpenters during construction.
Another remarkable change was seen with the cathedral’s stained-glass windows. They miraculously survived the fire but still required careful restoration due to smoke and lead damage.
After the soot and years of grime were removed, the glass revealed vibrant colors, especially the three rose windows. The cathedral’s 18th century great organ and eight bells were all cleaned, repaired, and treated as well.
Exterior Renovations
Outside, many of the sculptures were damaged by the high-pressure hoses used to fight the fire. Setting up a workshop in front of the cathedral, experts used digital scans to remake five of the gargoyles with limestone.
Notre-Dame’s collapsed spire also makes a return, lifted into place by Europe’s largest crane. The golden rooster that was once perched on the spire was recovered, but was too damaged to be used again.
The brand new rooster was blessed by the Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, before the crane carefully placed it atop the spire. Inside the golden sculpture are holy relics including a thorn from the cathedral’s Crown of Thorns and a parchment with the names of 2,000 people who worked on the renovation.
Week-long Celebrations for Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame’s opening ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, starting with a speech given by President Macron.
The ceremony will then proceed in three parts: the “awakening” of the great organ, the “chanting of the office” (a series of psalms and prayers), and the archbishop’s final blessing.
Around 50 heads of state and government are expected to be present at the event, including US president-elect Donald Trump. Some 170 bishops from around the world will also be involved in the ceremony.
On Sunday morning, the inaugural mass will take place, with President Macron in attendance once again. The public will be able to attend the second mass, on Sunday evening.
For eight days following the reopening, there will be masses held twice a day along with special evening ceremonies, many of which will be open to the public.
On December 17 and 18, the cathedral will host concerts of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat, accompanied by Emmanuelle Haïm’s ensemble, Le Concert d’Astrée.
Banner image by Antonin Subtil via Wikimedia Commons.
