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Inside rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris as Macron praises ¡®project of the century¡¯

Five and a half years after a devastating fire, the Gothic masterpiece reopens its doors next week

Tara Cobham
Saturday 30 November 2024 08:26 GMT
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Macron checks out Notre Dame as renovated cathedral interior unveiled for first time

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The French president Emmanuel Macron has praised the more than 1,000 craftspeople who helped with ¡°the project of the century¡±: rebuilding Paris¡¯s Notre-Dame Cathedral after it was gutted by a devastating fire.

Five and a half years after the blaze, the Gothic masterpiece, one of the French capital¡¯s most beloved and visited monuments, will reopen its doors to tourists and the Catholic faithful next week.

¡°Never before have we seen such a construction site. You all had your share in the project of the century,¡± Mr Macron told a gathering on Friday, which included carpenters, stonemasons, art restorers, firefighters and donors. ¡°The burning of Notre-Dame was a national wound and you were its remedy, [restoring it] through determination, hard work and commitment.¡±

The nave of Notre-Dame Cathedral following its extensive restoration
The nave of Notre-Dame Cathedral following its extensive restoration (Stephane de Sakutin/AP)

The workers, who included members of the elite Compagnons du Devoir, a centuries-old guild of artisans considered to be France¡¯s finest, burst into joyful applause when Mr Macron concluded his address with a final ¡°Thank you.¡±

The reconstruction work restored the 12th-century cathedral¡¯s spire, its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows and carved stone gargoyles to their past glory, with the white stone and gold decorations shining brighter than ever.

French president Emmanuel Macron (second left) and his wife Brigitte (left) visit the restored 12th-century cathedral
French president Emmanuel Macron (second left) and his wife Brigitte (left) visit the restored 12th-century cathedral (Christophe Petit Tesson/AP)

It is a far cry from the evening of 15 April 2019, when TV viewers in France and worldwide watched with horror as the cathedral¡¯s roof and spire burst into flames and collapsed in a raging fire that also threatened the main bell towers, which only narrowly avoided destruction.

On his visit to the site, Mr Macron seemed deeply impressed as light poured into the nave through the renewed windows.

On his visit to the site, Macron seemed deeply impressed as light poured into the nave through the renewed windows
On his visit to the site, Macron seemed deeply impressed as light poured into the nave through the renewed windows (Christophe Petit Tesson/AP)

¡°This is overwhelming,¡± he said as he toured the cathedral with his wife Brigitte, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, and other senior officials.

Relieved at having finished on schedule, stone-carver Samir Abbas, 38, said: ¡°It was an exceptional renovation project.¡±

The French president delivers a speech to construction workers inside the newly restored Gothic masterpiece
The French president delivers a speech to construction workers inside the newly restored Gothic masterpiece (Stephane de Sakutin/AP)

An opening ceremony ¨C to which celebrities and heads of state have been invited ¨C is planned for the evening of 7 December, followed by days of special masses to celebrate the reopening and to thank those who helped save and rebuild the cathedral.

So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world ¨C more than €840m (?698m), according to the president¡¯s office ¨C that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building.

So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building
So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building (Christophe Petit Tesson/AP)

The Catholic Church now expects the cathedral to welcome some 15 million visitors annually.

¡°We are very eager to welcome the whole world under the roof of our cathedral,¡± Paris¡¯s Archbishop Laurent Ulrich said in a message on the cathedral¡¯s website, expressing the Church¡¯s gratitude to all those who helped to save it.

A view of part of a bas-relief outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
A view of part of a bas-relief outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (Stephane de Sakutin/AP)

¡°On the night of 15 April, hundreds of thousands of people committed themselves to what then seemed an impossible bet: to restore the cathedral and give it back its splendour within the unprecedented deadline of five years.¡±

The guest list for the reopening ceremony has not yet been published, but one source familiar with the planning said US president Joe Biden¡¯s wife Jill would come, while president-elect Donald Trump had not yet confirmed his attendance.

The altar of the cathedral is one of the French capital¡¯s most beloved and visited monuments
The altar of the cathedral is one of the French capital¡¯s most beloved and visited monuments (AFP/Getty)

Parisians expressed excitement and relief at the prospect of the cathedral reopening.

¡°I¡¯m so happy,¡± said 50-year-old architect Sebastien Truchot, who lives nearby. ¡°Whether you believe in God or not, Notre-Dame is a universal symbol, and it¡¯s amazing to have it back and to rediscover it.¡±

Albert Abid, a bookseller whose stall stands on the quay, was shocked to see it burn five years ago. He said: ¡°It¡¯s a relief. Finally, Notre-Dame is restored.¡±

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