After over five years of intensive restoration work, Notre Dame Cathedral unveiled its rebuilt ceilings and meticulously cleaned stonework on Friday, marking a monumental step in its recovery from the devastating fire of 2019.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the restored interior, which dazzled with its vibrant stained glass windows and wide, light-filled spaces reminiscent of its centuries-old splendor. Outside, scaffolding and cranes still dot the site, but the interior has been fully transformed and will reopen to the public on December 8.
A Renewed Icon
Gone are the charred remnants and gaping holes that once scarred the cathedral. Painstakingly rebuilt stonework and delicate golden angels now adorn the ceilings, creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere that evokes the structure’s original grandeur.
The cathedral, which once attracted millions of worshippers and visitors annually, had become a restricted zone for artisans and architects after the fire. Macron, alongside his wife Brigitte and Paris’ archbishop, marveled at the results of the massive restoration efforts.
Advanced and Traditional Techniques
The restoration relied on a blend of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship:
- Cleaning and Decontamination:
- Toxic dust from the melted lead roof was removed using powerful vacuum cleaners.
- Layers of latex and cleaning gels were applied and peeled off, revealing bright and clean stonework across 42,000 square meters—equivalent to six soccer fields.
- Medieval Techniques:
- Carpenters used hand axes to hew giant oak beams, mirroring medieval methods to rebuild the dense roof framework, often called “the forest.”
- Approximately 2,000 oak trees were felled to recreate the intricate roof and spire that had collapsed during the fire.
Stonemason Adrien Willeme remarked, “It feels like it was built yesterday, like it’s just been born… It looks really extraordinary.”
Macron’s Praise and Upcoming Events
Macron hailed the project as the “building site of the century” and thanked the workers who restored the iconic 12th-century Gothic masterpiece. “The inferno of Notre Dame was a wound for the nation. And you were its remedy,” he told them.
The president’s visit kicks off a series of events celebrating the cathedral’s reopening. He will return on December 7 to deliver another address and attend a solemn Mass for the consecration of the new altar the following day.
Notre Dame’s rebirth symbolizes not just a triumph of craftsmanship but a renewed hope and resilience for a nation deeply connected to this architectural marvel.
