Five years after a fire ravaged the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the reconstruction work on the building’s interior can finally be unveiled. Images from a site visit by French President Emmanuel Macron showcased the inside of the iconic cathedral as it might have appeared to worshippers in medieval times, with wide, open spaces bathed in bright light on a crisp and sunny winter’s day, illuminating the vibrant colors of the stained glass windows.
The cathedral, which once attracted millions of worshippers and visitors annually, was forced to close on 15 April 2019 after a devastating fire turned the monument in the heart of Paris into a no-go zone, accessible only to artisans, architects, and others involved in the reconstruction efforts. Outside, the monument remains a construction site, with scaffolding and cranes still in place. However, the renovated interior, revealed in all its glory on Friday before the public is allowed back in on 8 December, proved to be breathtaking.
The gaping holes torn into the vaulted ceilings by the blaze, leaving charred piles of debris, have been replaced with new stonework meticulously pieced together to repair the damage and protect the cathedral's insides from the elements. Delicate golden angels now look down from the centerpiece of one of the rebuilt ceilings, soaring once again above the transept. The cathedral's bright, cream-colored limestone walls appear brand new, having been cleaned not only of the fire's dust but also of centuries of accumulated grime.
Macron entered the cathedral through its giant, intricately carved front doors and gazed up at the ceilings in awe, accompanied by his wife, Brigitte, the archbishop of Paris, and others. Powerful vacuum cleaners were used to remove toxic dust released when the fire melted the cathedral's lead roofs. Fine layers of latex were then sprayed onto the surfaces and removed a few days later, taking dirt away with them. Cleaning gels were also used on some painted walls, revealing their bright colors once again.
Carpenters worked by hand, much like their medieval counterparts, as they hewed giant oak beams to rebuild the roof and spire that collapsed into the inferno. The beams bear the marks of the carpenters' handiwork, with dents made by their hand axes. Around 2,000 oak trees were felled to rebuild the roof frameworks, so dense and intricate that they are nicknamed “the forest.” Macron's visit marked the beginning of a series of events leading up to the reopening of the 12th-century Gothic masterpiece. He will return on December 7 to deliver an address and attend the consecration of the new altar during a solemn Mass the following day.
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