Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens for the First Time Since 2019

The historic Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) was devastated by a fire on April 15, 2019. Now, five years later, it’s finally reopening. The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown, but there are theories. Officials do not believe that it was started intentionally. French President Emmanuel Macron made a promise to the people of France that the beloved church would be restored within five years, and he stayed true to his word.

Notre Dame de Paris

The Notre Dame de Paris is a more than 860-year-old medieval Catholic cathedral located in Paris, France. Construction started on the ancient church in 1163 and was mostly completed by 1260. Many modifications were made over the years, as well as repairs following the French Revolution in the 1790s. The sacred church hosted the coronation of Napolean and was the chosen site for the funerals of many French Republic presidents.

The church is a recognized symbol in Paris and the entire French nation. Until the fire, it was the most visited monument in Paris, with around 12 million guests stopping by each year.

The Blaze

The fire that destroyed much of the cathedral in 2019 is believed by many to have been started either by a cigarette or an electrical issue. It began in the attic and was primarily contained to the uppermost parts of the building. The cathedral’s wooden spire (a tall, tower-like structure) was destroyed as was much of the roof and upper walls. It took hundreds of firefighters to get it under control, but thankfully there were no lives lost. Only three of the first responders acquired non-life-threatening injuries.

The church is the home of many sacred relics, including artwork and other items that survived the flames with little to no damage. A couple of pews were destroyed, and some deep cleaning was needed on the pipe organs and altar, as well as a few of the church’s 13th-century rose windows. Overall, the loss could have been considerably worse.

A Promise Kept

Just as promised, Macron oversaw the completion of repairs in around five years. The crew working on the cathedral included nearly 2,000 construction workers. Many of the workers were members of Compagnons du Devoir (Companions of Duty), an elite organization of specialized craftsmen that dates to the Middle Ages. The reconstruction resembled in as many ways as possible the original look of the cathedral. Lumber from centuries-old trees made up the lattice support system, and limestone from the Oise region of northern France was used to repair the vaults. The restoration was made possible by over 340,000 donors who, together, gave nearly $900 million.

The reopening of the cathedral was a major event. On December 7, several world leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump and Jill Biden attended the ceremony. Initially, the reopening was to be held outdoors, but bad weather forced it inside the church. A concert, dedicated to the firefighters who saved the church and those who helped rebuild it, followed the initial ceremony.

Takeaways:

1. The Notre Dame de Paris, one of the most famous tourist attractions in France, was badly burned in 2019.
2. In around five years, Notre Dame was repaired and reopened.
3. Almost 2,000 construction workers, many of whom belong to an elite and ancient guild of craftsmen, restored the cathedral as closely to its original form as possible.