Interior restored 5 years after fire

More than five years after a devastating fire left Notre Dame Cathedral covered in toxic dust and charred debris, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled its long-awaited restoration to the world.

Macron visited the site on Friday ahead of its planned reopening to the public on Dec. 8. Joined by his wife, Brigitte, and the archbishop of Paris, the president broadcast images from inside the cathedral, showing its soaring rebuilt ceilings and shiny stonework good as new.

“This project was a human adventure of epic proportions in terms of building and prowess, involving the patient and dedicated work of a chain of talents working with one another, passing the torch to those of the centuries to come,” Macron wrote in an essay ahead of his visit.

In the years since the April 2019 fire destroyed the structure’s spire and roof, only those involved in the reconstruction have been permitted to enter the cathedral. Architects and artisans have since worked tirelessly to restore the Gothic marvel to its splendor of previous centuries.

Inside the 12th-century monument, the ceiling — once left with gaping holes — has been rebuilt using an estimated 2,000 oak trees. Murals have been restored to their original colors and the limestone walls have not only been cleaned of dust from the fire, but hundreds of years of accumulated dirt.

Outside, the ornate spire stands once again.

“The inferno of Notre Dame was a wound for the nation. And you were its remedy,” Macron told hundreds of workers gathered in the cathedral after his tour.

Macron’s Friday visit kicked off a series of events ahead of the reopening. He’ll return on Dec. 7 to deliver an address and attend the consecration of a new altar during Mass the following day.

With News Wire Services

Originally Published: November 29, 2024 at 2:22 PM EST