After 2,000 days of work, the reopening of Notre-Dame will take place on December 7 and 8. A few days before the date, residents and merchants of the Île de la Cité are impatient to return to their lives before the fire.
Five years have passed. Since the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019, it took 2,000 days of hard work for the building to come back to life and be able to reopen to the public on December 7 and 8.
But behind this reopening of one of the country's most emblematic monuments, it is also the life of the Cité district that is at stake. Particularly the economic one, the closure of the place having significantly reduced tourist numbers.
“We had drops in attendance of 30 to 40% depending on the period and we had to adapt with the staff and eliminate quite a few positions,” regretted Roger-Frédéric Riard, boss, a few weeks ago. from the Esmeralda brewery at the microphone of BFM Paris Île-de-France.
“It will bring life to the neighborhood”
And a few days before reopening, the boss is counting the days. “It’s clear that after five years of difficult years, we say to ourselves that the reopening will bring life back to the neighborhood and that we will perhaps return to a normal level of activity,” he indicates in front of the 'building.
For one of his employees, same story. “I’m super happy, we’re going to work three times as much, it was a big loss for the boss and us.”
On the other side of the bank, on the top floor of a well-known building in the capital, the restaurant La Tour d'Argent is getting ready. If attendance at the latter has not decreased due to the work at Notre-Dame, the director is happy to know that the scaffolding will soon disappear.
-“Here all the tables have a splendid view of Paris, but if you position yourself here (a particular table) you are really at the bedside of Notre-Dame”, shows André Terrail at BFM Paris Île-de-France. “We have clients from all over the world, from the provinces, who want to experience an extraordinary event and Notre-Dame, this incredible view of Paris is part of the experience at the Tour d’Argent,” he adds.
Tourists “impatient” to rediscover the cathedral
In addition to the merchants, it is also the residents of the neighborhood who will be able to find the building. This is the case for Julien, who grew up and continues to live in an apartment whose windows overlook Notre-Dame. “I can't wait for all of this (the scaffolding, Editor's note) to go away so I can rediscover this little neighborhood happiness that there was and that I knew when I was young,” he breathes. Before admitting. “Since they did the work, it has even improved, I think.”
Among French tourists, impatience also reigns. “We are very impatient, because when we look at the panels with all the work that has been done, and which is still being done, it is impressive to say that there is still know-how like this today”, marveled Estelle, town hall agent a few days ago.
Same thing for foreign tourists, impressed by the work. “I find it wonderful that you are taking the time to renovate such an iconic place,” said Jade, a British tourist. “As an English and Welsh person, it’s one of the places to come.”
Martin Regley Journalist
