The hourglass is almost empty. Five and a half years after the fire of April 15, 2019, Notre-Dame de Paris (4th) is preparing to rise from the ashes. Since the disaster, the restoration of the cathedral has been in full swing. Up to 600 journeymen, craftsmen, architects and engineers worked simultaneously every day on this titanic project, the outcome of which has never been so close. In a month, that's it, there will be thousands of visitors and faithful, and millions of viewers to rediscover, on December 8 – the day after the official reopening marked by a speech by the President of the Republic – this exceptional, magnified Gothic setting by its restoration.
A renaissance made possible thanks to 846 million euros paid by 340,000 donors. Generosity such as the excess money collected will allow the companions to continue exterior restoration work “already in the boxes before the fire”, from 2025. But each thing in its time. It is still time for finishing touches so that visitors can discover the site under the best auspices. And there will be people; between 14 and 15 million people are expected by the diocese after the reopening.
