Paris' archbishop Laurent Ulrich officially reopened the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral on December 7, 2024, by knocking on its doors during a grand reopening ceremony. This event marked the culmination of extensive restoration efforts following the devastating 2019 fire. – Reuters
The newly restored Notre Dame cathedral is scheduled to hold its first public service on Sunday, following a historic re-opening ceremony that honored firefighters, builders, and artists for their crucial role in saving the 12th-century masterpiece. The beloved Paris landmark nearly collapsed in 2019 but has since been meticulously renovated, including the installation of a new roof and spire.
During the re-opening service on Saturday, attended by world leaders such as incoming US president Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron, Macron expressed the 'gratitude of the French nation' for the restoration work. 'We have rediscovered what great nations can do -- achieve the impossible,' he stated. One of the most poignant moments was when firefighters, clad in protective gear, received thunderous applause as 'Merci' ('Thank you') was projected onto the cathedral's intricate facade and famous belltowers.
The architectural wonder, which was on the brink of collapse during the April 2019 blaze, was saved by the heroic efforts of firefighters who pumped water from the nearby River Seine. On Sunday morning, the first mass will be held at 10:30 am (0930 GMT) in the presence of hundreds of bishops and priests from Paris and across France. Paris archbishop Laurent Ulrich will lead the prayers and consecrate the new altar, replacing the one destroyed in 2019.
A second mass, scheduled for 6:30 pm, will be open to the public, with approximately 2,500 people expected to attend. The cathedral will fully reopen to visitors on December 16, with access managed through an online reservation system. The reopening ceremony featured Archbishop Ulrich, dressed in new vestments designed by fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, knocking on the cathedral's doors three times. Trump was seated on the front row as a guest of honor next to Macron, while attendees admired the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture, and state-of-the-art lighting installed during the restoration.
Despite wet weather and high winds, small crowds of Parisians and tourists gathered outside to witness the rebirth of a monument that symbolizes the French capital and is one of its most visited landmarks. 'I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored,' said Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, speaking to AFP outside the cathedral.
The reconstruction effort, which cost around 700 million euros ($750 million) and was financed through donations, met the five-year re-opening deadline despite initial predictions that it could take decades. However, some work remains, including finishing the cathedral's lead roofing base and reinstalling the statues of the apostles and saints, which were removed before the fire and will only be reinstalled in the first half of 2025.
The exact cause of the 2019 blaze remains unidentified, despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors who believe an accident, such as an electrical fault, was the most likely reason. Before the fire, Notre Dame welcomed around 12 million visitors annually, but church authorities expect this number to rise to '14 to 15 million' post-reopening.
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