1 week Ago By Abigailtmontanez
The Notre-Dame Cathedral will soon rise from the ashes. More than five years after a fire nearly destroyed the famous Parisian monument, Notre-Dame will finally open its doors to the public next month, The New York Times reported. The Gothic-style landmark was set ablaze in April 2019 with flames burning through the wooden roof and spire.
To commemorate the grand rebirth on December 7, a ceremony will be broadcast worldwide with a public mass slated for the next day. “We are going to recover the focal point of our life as a church ,” Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris said during a news conference. The 12-century monument is estimated to attract 14 million to 15 million yearly visitors upon its reopening.
Ahead of the ceremony, President Emmanuel Macron of France will give a brief speech in front of the historic structure accompanied by a concert. The day after, Macron will attend a special Mass service along with approximately 170 bishops. Though, it should be noted that Pope Francis will not be in attendance.
Since the fire, more than 300,000 donors have stepped in to help with the restoration efforts, gifting almost $900 million. In the aftermath, thanks to about 2,000 workers and local artisans, repairs have been made to the 860-year-old cathedral’s stained-glass windows and roof. While the majority of the process is complete, there’s about three years and $150 million worth of work still to be done, mainly to the exterior and its many flying buttresses.
During President Macron’s time in office, he pledged to rebuild the cathedral by 2025. “The challenge of rebuilding in five years has been successfully met,” added Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, Notre-Dame’s rector. “It shows that in this period of doubt and of questioning, if we remain united around a common goal, we can achieve the impossible.
” Just last week, the sound of Notre-Dame’s eight bells rang throughout the City of Light for the first time since 2019 signaling the forthcoming reopening. Three new bells have also been installed, including one that tolled at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. If you plan on visiting, the cathedral will be operating on an afternoon to 10 p.
m. schedule for the time being and plans on implementing a free online reservation system and a smartphone app with a guide. While individual visitors are welcome, group tours won’t be permitted until spring 2025.
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