Emmanuel Macron began his last visit to the site – Libération

One last visit before reopening. Emmanuel Macron arrived this Friday morning at Notre-Dame, for the last time before its official reopening on December 7 and 8, after five years of restoration following the fire. A busy program, broadcast live on television, which will allow viewers to discover the results of the work undertaken inside the restored cathedral.

The President of the Republic began his visit with a stop at the small square in front of Notre-Dame, before entering the place. He embarks on a visit in ten stages lasting two hours: first the nave, then the crossing of the transept and its framework, then the framework of the choir, the north enclosure of the choir, the Saint-Marcel chapel, the South ambulatory and, finally, the choir.

At each stop, Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by his wife and the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, must speak with some of the people who worked to resurrect Notre-Dame. Among them, the Belgian architect and landscaper Bas Smets, who designed the new square, Guillaume Bardet, the designer who created the new liturgical furniture, Jean-Louis Bidet, one of the carpenters, Marie Pouliot and Marie Parant, painting restorers mural, or Pascal Prunet, chief architect of historic monuments.

At least 1,300 people present, but no pope

This movement is “the opportunity to unveil the rebuilt cathedral, the splendor of which will be revealed in its entirety on this occasion, and to discover the tremendous work carried out by all the craftsmen, restorers, architects, engineers and technical teams over the past five years”, rejoiced the Elysée in a press release. At the end of the visit, Emmanuel Macron will say a word of thanks to the companions who contributed to the restoration. All 2,000 people, companions and donors, who contributed to the work, have been invited, of whom at least 1,300 should be present.

Emmanuel Macron will then return to Notre-Dame on Saturday December 7 for the reopening ceremony of the cathedral. The President will deliver a «court» speech on the square, and not inside the building, separation of Church and State obliges. The next day, he will attend the mass of consecration of the altar, without receiving communion, and without Pope Francis, who preferred to go to Corsica for his visit to France.