Paris President Emmanuel Macron visited the Paris Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, providing a breathtaking tour of its meticulous restoration, five years after a fire destroyed its elaborate wooden roof and spire.
Her spire is back in place today, and the Gothic masterpiece is ready to welcome the public. Macron will give a two-hour televised tour of the renovated structure, which is essentially a synoymous representation of French history and culture.
In an essay published prior to his two-hour visit, which was broadcast live on television, Macron stated that this project was a human adventure of epic proportions in terms of construction and skill, involving the patient and committed work of a chain of talents working with one another passing the torch to those of the centuries to come.
The Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich and Macron’s wife Brigitte accompanied him as he toured the magnificently restored cathedral, the creamy new stonework shining in place of the massive charred holes left by the April 15, 2019 fire, and the stained-glass windows illuminated by bright winter sunshine. Crowds of applauding donors, architects, business executives, and artists surrounded him in the square outside.
The murals have been restored to their former vibrant colors, and the walls are a stunning white. The medieval church is given a contemporary touch with a golden cross and a brand-new alter. New wood has been installed in lieu of the oak ceiling, which was reduced to ashes and had a hole made by the falling spire. Sprinklers and fire doors are a contemporary addition.
The crown of thorns, one of the most revered objects in the cathedral, will be kept in a glittering reliquary. It is believed to have been the wreath that was placed on Jesus Christ’s head at his crucifixion.
Macron faced mockery when he promised to restore the cathedral and have it restored to the public by 2024, following the destruction of the medieval monument’s iconic spire and roof by the
Despite the fact that repair work would probably take years, Macron has fulfilled his pledge, as Notre Dame will welcome visitors for the first time on December 7.
Many people thought it was an insurmountable task, but Macron stated that we would have overcome it. Under unprecedented circumstances, this once-in-a-century project has been carried out. According to him, it needed the cooperation of France’s top specialists and experts.
Thousands of shocked Parisians and visitors watched, many of them crying, as Notre Dame’s famous spire—known in France as la fl che, or arrow—lurched and plunged into the flames on the night of the fire. One of the most familiar sites in the French capital vanished in a matter of minutes.
Within a day of the fire, approximately $1 billion in pledged gifts were made, despite the fact that a portion of the cathedral—which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991—remained unharmed.
The public organization in charge of the cathedral’s conservation and restoration, Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris, estimated at the time that it would cost $760 million.
As teams of specialized craftsmen poured in from all over the world to assist, work swiftly got underway on the medieval landmark that has been immortalized in literature, film, and history.
Louise Bausiere, who has been working on the cathedral’s knave for the past two years, expressed her hope that people will appreciate their efforts to NBC News on Wednesday. “It’s incredible,” she said.
It was difficult to succeed in five years, she remarked. There was nothing we could do about it.
According to her, the team made it precisely the same by taking pictures and consulting archives. Everything is identical, including the methods, images, and aesthetics. She went on to say that technology made things easier today.
Macron’s visit coincides with political unrest in France due to Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s plans for a budget that includes tax increases and spending cuts totaling 60 billion euros ($62 billion) despite not having a majority in parliament. This has prompted far-right leader Marine Le Pen to threaten to overthrow the government.
Additionally, his administration is praising the reconstruction as a sign of French resilience and national cohesion.
Notre-Dame had previously undergone reconstructive surgery.
The cathedral has had numerous revivals since the first stone was put in the 12th century.
Additionally, Napoleon I and his wife, Empress Josphine, were crowned there in 1804, and on August 24, 1944, its enormous bells rang out to commemorate the liberation of Paris from German occupation.
Its stone gargoyles and holy artifacts, which included Jesus’ Crown of Thorns for a while, attracted travelers for centuries.
In addition to immortalizing the history of the cathedral, Victor Hugo’s 1831 book Notre-Dame de Paris, popularly referred to as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, served as the impetus for a significant renovation of the location.
Macron will return on Dec. 7 to give a speech and be present in a solemn Mass the next day to witness the consecration of the new altar.
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