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As the globally renowned Notre-Dame cathedral was engulfed in a catastrophic fire in 2019, residents of Paris witnessed the tragedy with profound sorrow.
Now, following over five years of intense restoration efforts, the public is being offered a remarkable first look inside the rejuvenated 12th-century edifice.
Today, President Emmanuel Macron is on site to observe the reconditioned interiors in person prior to the Gothic cathedral’s first service next month.
This broadcasted visit is anticipated to inaugurate a series of ceremonies leading up to the cathedral’s reopening – the reconstruction of which has been celebrated as a representation of national solidarity and the indomitable French spirit.
Brigitte Macron (2R) greets Paris’ Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, (C) alongside Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo (L), Ile-de-France President Valerie Pecresse, and French President Emmanuel Macron (R) during a visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Pic: Reuters
The construction of Notre-Dame commenced in 1163 and was predominantly finalized by 1260, with modifications occurring in subsequent centuries.
Rising majestically from the Ile de la Cité, it has long served as a representation of both Paris and French Christianity. However, in April 2019, a fire erupted within the cathedral’s roof space.
Smoke rises as the fire consumes the spire of Notre-Dame in 2019. File pic: Reuters
File pic: Reuters
When the blaze was finally brought under control, the wooden spire had collapsed, a significant portion of the wooden roofing was incinerated, and the upper walls of the cathedral sustained considerable damage.
Witnessing the flames ravage this historic site, the citizens of Paris shed tears, and their grief intensified as the severity of the destruction was revealed.
A woman sobs as she participates in the Chrism Mass just days after a fire partially ravaged the Notre-Dame cathedral. Pic: Reuters
Parisians weeping at a vigil following the Notre-Dame fire of 2019. Pic: AP
“I have come to bid farewell to an old companion in its final moments,” one observer expressed to Sky News at that time, gazing across the River Seine in disbelief.
Eight months later, Notre-Dame could not host its annual Christmas Mass – the first time this has occurred since 1803.
The cathedral has been enveloped in scaffolding for the past five years.
Scaffolding present inside the nave of Notre-Dame. Pic: Reuters
An interior view of the Cathedral in 2008, prior to the fire. Pic: Reuters
Investigators examined the origins of the fire but uncovered no proof of foul play. However, it was revealed that a significant error occurred shortly after the flames ignited.
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A guard was dispatched to investigate reports of smoke but was directed to the incorrect location and found no indications of the impending catastrophe. This oversight was discovered only 15 minutes later, which postponed the response.
While the specific reason for the fire remains uncertain, French officials suspect it could have been triggered by either an electrical malfunction or a discarded cigarette.
Notre-Dame is anticipated to officially reopen to the public on December 8, although significant public interest is expected, leading to long queues to witness the cathedral’s restored interior.
