One month before its reopening, Notre-Dame de Paris, ravaged by a fire in 2019, has regained its emblematic silhouette. The cathedral will reopen its doors on December 7, 2024, marked by a ceremony whose details remain unclear. This reopening, promised by Emmanuel Macron the day after the tragedy, seems to be holding up well despite the interruptions linked to the pandemic and health measures.
The spire, which fell before the eyes of Parisians, is now rebuilt identically according to the plans of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Some work remains to be completed, such as the lead covering of the base of the spire and the reinstallation of the statues of the apostles and saints, planned for 2025.
Those responsible for the restoration, who mobilized 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen, estimate that a million additional visitors could come to admire the cathedral, which welcomed 12 million people in 2017. A new circulation system and reservations in line will be put in place.
Inside, the layout has been redesigned, with minimalist liturgical furniture and new lighting. The stained glass windows, intact during the fire, have been restored, and the “mays”, these 17th century altar paintings, are also back. The building regains its spiritual and heritage role, with Christ's crown of thorns still present in a contemporary reliquary.
It remains to finalize the lead covering at the base of the cathedral roof, while the statues of the apostles and saints, removed before the fire for their restoration, will be reinstalled by the first half of 2025. Although the work is progressing, cranes and scaffolding are still visible on the site.
Tourists, always kept at a distance by palisades and barbed wire, flock to the square every day to observe the progress of the exterior work, in particular the laying of new paving in limestone slabs in front of the large main gate. According to those responsible for the project, it is nearing its end, after several years of effort.
The reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris is a highly anticipated event, symbolizing a spiritual and cultural renewal. For Antoinette Mirin, a 65-year-old faithful, this represents “faith, religion, heritage, the history of Paris”and a “renewal” which particularly delights Catholics at the start of Advent. Jean-Michel Leniaud, president of the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame, emphasizes that the cathedral is “the temple of the Nation”a strong emblem of the history of Paris and France. However, this reopening also raises concerns, particularly in the face of the influx of visitors. Virginie Eholian, for example, fears that crowds and tourist distractions will harm her spiritual experience, admitting: “Tourists can block me from living my faith.”
Regarding the program, on December 7, during the reopening ceremony, Emmanuel Macron will speak and the recently restored organ will be “awakened”. The first mass will take place on December 8, with the consecration of the new altar by Mgr Ulrich. Although he received an invitation from the president, Pope Francis indicated that he would ultimately not be present at the ceremony. Paul McCartney, in concert in Paris just before the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris on December 7, could participate in the festivities of this long-awaited event, in the company of other great artists like Bono, to celebrate the resurrection of the monument.
