Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France is set to reopen on December 8, five and a half years after the fire. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the renovated cathedral on December 7 and speak at the opening ceremony.
The ceremony begins at 6 pm local time when Archbishop Laurent Ulrich symbolically knocks on the doors of the cathedral. Bhajans will be sung from inside, then the doors will open. The Archbishop will bless the organ, and a service will follow. A public show will be broadcast from the square following the invitation-only service.
The first public Mass will be held on December 8 at 10.30am. There will be more mass prayers over the next eight days. Some will be open to the public. Public tours will begin on December 8 from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. Free online booking will be available via the cathedral’s website, social media or a dedicated app from early December. Visitors without booking will be given space in a queue. Group tours will be admitted only from February next year.
The 2019 fire destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame. The cause is unclear, with authorities citing a possible electrical fault or a thrown cigarette. The cathedral, a medieval Gothic masterpiece, has been a cultural icon for centuries. Its construction began in 1163 and continued for more than a century.
More than 840 million euros were donated for the restoration of the burnt cathedral. Officials said the cathedral “will be more beautiful than ever,” citing the cleaning of stone and paintings, and the renovation or replacement of furniture. Some artifacts were rescued from the fire by emergency workers. The cathedral expects 14 to 15 million annual visitors.