Lemmy.World

Summary

The newly restored 850-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral will reopen on December 7, five years after the devastating 2019 fire.

The €700m renovation has revitalized the Gothic masterpiece, preserving its historical integrity while incorporating modern safety upgrades like sprinkler systems.

The project involved 2,000 skilled craftsmen, boosting traditional trades such as stone-carving and woodwork.

Key features, including stained-glass windows and artwork, were saved, while the spire and roof timbers were reconstructed.

The world gets a first look inside a resplendent new Notre-Dame on Friday, as France's President Emmanuel Macron conducts a televised tour to mark the cathedral's imminent re-opening.

Five-and-a-half years after the devastating fire of 2019, Paris's Gothic jewel has been rescued, renovated and refurbished - offering visitors what promises to be a breathtaking visual treat.

The president - accompanied by his wife Brigitte and Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich - are kicking off a programme of ceremonies that culminates with an official "entry" into the cathedral on 7 December and the first Catholic Mass the next day.

After being shown highlights of the building’s €700m (£582m) renovation - including the massive roof timbers that replace the medieval frame consumed in the fire - he will give a speech of thanks to around 1,300 craftsmen and women gathered in the nave.

Notre-Dame's re-vamped interior has been kept a closely-guarded secret - with only a few images released over the years marking the progress of the renovation work.

But people who have been inside recently say the experience is awe-inspiring, the cathedral lifted by a new clarity and brightness that mark a sharp contrast with the pervading gloom of before.