French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (November 29) will visit renovation works at Paris’s Notre-Dame cathedral, which was set to reopen on December 7 five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire. There was major damage throughout the area.
Here is what you need to know:
What is Notre-Dame?
A medieval Gothic masterpiece, Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the most beloved and visited monuments of the French capital. Its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stunning stained-glass windows and carved stone gargoyles have long been celebrated in books and movies.
The first stone was laid in 1163, and construction continued over the next century, with major restorations and additions made in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Victor Hugo used the cathedral as a setting for his 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed by Hollywood actors including Charles Laughton and in an animated Disney adaptation.
Why and how did it burn?
On the evening of April 15, 2019, flames began rising from the roof of the cathedral. Soon, the fire engulfed the spire and nearly brought down the main bell towers. Around the world, TV viewers watched with horror as the medieval building burned. The roof collapsed but the bell tower and façade remained intact. It is unclear what exactly caused the fire. French authorities have said that an electrical fault or a burning cigarette may have been responsible.
What will happen at the opening ceremony?
President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech in front of the cathedral on December 7 after which Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will knock on the cathedral’s heavy doors using his crozier.
From within the cathedral, a hymn would be sung three times in response to the knock, after which the doors would open. The Archbishop will bless the cathedral’s ancient organ before it begins playing. There will be a service after this.
The service is by invitation only and the guest list is not yet known. This will be followed by a show broadcast from Cathedral Square, details for which are also not yet available.
How was the cathedral rebuilt?
Money came from around the world, including from French luxury sector billionaire François Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. According to Macron’s office, so much money has been donated – more than 840 million euros ($882 million) – that there will be no money left for further investment in the building. The damage required five years of restoration work.
What has changed?
Officials say the cathedral will be more beautiful than ever, not only because the spire, ceiling and everything else destroyed by the fire was rebuilt by thousands of expert craftsmen, but also because the stones and paintings, which over the years Were blackened, cleaned thoroughly. Furniture was also refurbished and cleaned, or replaced.
Not everything was damaged by the fire. For example, emergency workers formed a human chain to protect gem-encrusted cups and other priceless artifacts from damage.