PARIS, France – After a meticulous restoration effort spanning over five years, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is poised to reopen its doors to the public on December 8. The cathedral, a symbol of French heritage and Christian faith, was engulfed in flames in April 2019, leading to significant damage to its roof and spire.
On Friday, November 29, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the site, offering the public the first official glimpse into the renewed 850-year-old structure via a live television broadcast. The President will also officiate the reopening ceremony on December 7, where the cathedral will symbolically welcome visitors again.
The ceremony will commence at 6:00 pm local time with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocking on the cathedral doors, followed by the singing of a psalm from within. After this, the doors will open, the organ will be blessed, and a service will ensue, which will be followed by a public display broadcast live from the square outside.
The first public Mass is scheduled for December 8 at 10:30 am, with subsequent Masses planned over the next eight days, some of which will be open to the public. Public visits will begin on the same day from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, with visitors able to book free tickets online or via the cathedral’s app starting in early December. Walk-in visitors will be accommodated without bookings, while group visits are set to start in February 2025.
The Notre Dame Fire Incident
The devastating fire of 2019 left the cathedral’s roof and its famous spire in ruins. While the exact cause remains undetermined, speculation points towards an electrical fault or a discarded cigarette.
The restoration project, often referred to as the “building site of the century,” involved over 250 companies and hundreds of experts. “This final site visit is an opportunity to thank them in particular – from wood craftsmen to those of metal and stone, from scaffolders to roofers, from bell makers to art restorers, from gilders to masons and sculptors, from carpenters to organ builders, from architects, archaeologists, engineers and planners to logistical or administrative functions,” President Macron remarked during his visit.
The restoration has cost nearly 700 million euros, with donations exceeding 840 million euros, showcasing the global support for the preservation of this medieval Gothic masterpiece, which began construction in 1163 and has stood as a cultural icon for centuries.
