The Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, one of France's most iconic cultural landmarks, made headlines in 2019 when it was engulfed in flames. The images of the fire sent shockwaves across the nation. French President Emmanuel Macron's promise to rebuild the Cathedral within five years was met with skepticism by industry experts. However, that moment is now set to become a reality. On December 7, approximately 2,000 people, including President Macron, are expected to attend the monument's reopening. In an interview with French broadcast France 2, Macron mentioned that he would invite Pope Francis to the event.

Despite the upcoming celebration, the journey to this reopening has not been without its challenges. General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who was tasked with overseeing the Cathedral's renovations, tragically died in a mountain accident in August 2023. The former French Army general and Chief of the Defence Staff was known for his straightforward manner. In late 2019, during a hearing before the National Assembly's Cultural Affairs Committee, Georgelin was asked about the reconstruction of Notre Dame's spire, which was destroyed in the fire. Amidst his disagreements with the project's chief architect, Philippe Villeneuve, Georgelin bluntly stated: "Let him shut his mouth and we'll move forward with wisdom!"

Another contentious issue arose when President Macron announced plans to replace Notre Dame de Paris' original stained glass windows with contemporary creations. This decision faced significant opposition. Macron argued that these new windows, scheduled for installation in 2026, would add a modern touch to the historic monument. The original stained glass windows, designed by French architects Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Jean-Baptiste Lassus, were not damaged in the fire. Nonetheless, Macron proposed replacing six out of seven windows in the Cathedral's south aisle with contemporary designs. This decision was partly influenced by a letter from the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich to Macron, expressing hope for new stained glass windows in one of the chapels.

Macron's plans to relocate the original windows to a new museum dedicated to Notre-Dame's restoration and to select contemporary designs through an artist competition sparked immediate backlash. In December, French newspaper La Tribune de l’Art launched a petition against the move, which garnered over 230,000 signatures. In July, the French National Commission for Heritage and Architecture unanimously opposed replacing the stained glass windows, citing the Venice Charter, which prohibits replacing well-preserved historic features with modern ones. Despite the opposition, the French Ministry of Culture announced in September the pre-selection of eight artists to design the new windows, with submissions due by November 4. A committee chaired by Bernard Blistène, the former director of the Musée National d'Art Moderne, will choose the winning design, with results to be announced in time for the cathedral's grand reopening.

A storm of controversy also erupted when French Culture Minister Rachida Dati suggested that tourists visiting the Paris cathedral should pay a €5 entrance fee. Dati proposed this fee as a means to preserve the country's crumbling churches, estimating it could generate up to €75 million annually. According to the Observatoire du Patrimoine Religieux, between 2,500 to 5,000 religious sites are at risk of being abandoned, sold, or destroyed by 2030. The Diocese of Paris, responsible for the building, firmly opposed the idea, stating that Catholic churches in France should remain free of charge. Former French Socialist President François Hollande echoed this sentiment, stating that charging admission to Notre-Dame was both impractical and against principle. Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella, leader of the French far-right National Rally Party, supported the measure, emphasizing the importance of preserving France's Christian heritage.

France has sought alternative funding to address the dwindling funds for religious site upkeep, including the "Loto du patrimoine" fund, which has raised almost €155 million for 950 sites since its launch. In mid-November, the Gothic landmark received three new bells, including one used during the Paris Olympic Games at the Stade de France stadium. The Olympic bell, a gift from the Paris 2024 organizing committee, will be installed alongside two smaller bells, named Chiara and Carlos, above the altar where they will be rung during Mass. Their arrival ahead of Notre Dame's reopening on December 8 marks a significant milestone in the restoration and modernization of the 861-year-old cathedral, made famous by Victor Hugo's “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, rector of Notre Dame, expressed gratitude for the bells’ arrival during a ceremony, stating, “What a joy it is. At the most important moment of the Mass, these bells will ring, just as they did when the victor of a competition could celebrate their victory.”

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