Notre Dame Cathedral/ 2019 fire restoration/ Paris landmarks/ Notre Dame reopening/ Emmanuel Macron visit/ medieval craftsmanship/ French heritage/ PARIS/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ After a five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame Cathedral unveiled its transformed interior. President Emmanuel Macron toured the site, praising the meticulous craftsmanship that restored its soaring ceilings and vibrant stonework. The iconic cathedral reopens to the public on December 8.
Notre Dame Cathedral’s Renovation: Quick Looks
- Restoration Milestone: Five years after the 2019 fire, Notre Dame’s interior is fully restored.
- Stunning Results: Rebuilt ceilings, cleaned limestone walls, and vibrant stained glass bring the cathedral back to life.
- Presidential Visit: French President Emmanuel Macron praised workers and called the reopening a “shock of hope.”
- Traditional Craftsmanship: Carpenters and stonemasons used medieval techniques to repair the roof and spire.
- Public Reopening: Scheduled for December 8, with a consecration Mass on December 7.
Notre Dame Cathedral Reveals Rebuilt Interior After 2019 Fire
Deep Look: Notre Dame Cathedral Reveals Rebuilt Interior Five Years After Fire
Notre Dame Cathedral, one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, unveiled its magnificently restored interior on Friday, five years after a catastrophic fire ravaged the 12th-century masterpiece. French President Emmanuel Macron toured the site, marveling at the meticulous restoration that brought the cathedral’s grandeur back to life. The official reopening to the public is set for December 8.
A Masterpiece Reborn
The devastating fire on April 15, 2019, left gaping holes in Notre Dame’s vaulted ceilings and reduced the roof and spire to ash. After years of tireless efforts by stonemasons, carpenters, and artisans, the cathedral’s interior now gleams with new life.
- Rebuilt Ceilings: The charred remnants of the fire have been replaced with carefully pieced-together stonework. Delicate golden angels now adorn the transept ceiling, appearing to soar once again.
- Cleaned Limestone: The cathedral’s cream-colored limestone walls, cleaned of centuries of grime and fire debris, look almost new.
- Restored Stained Glass: The vibrant colors of Notre Dame’s stained glass windows shine brightly, lit by the winter sun.
President Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte and the Archbishop of Paris, entered the cathedral through its towering carved doors. He called the restoration a “shock of hope” for a nation still healing from the fire’s emotional scars.
Modern Methods and Medieval Craftsmanship
The restoration combined innovative cleaning techniques and time-honored craftsmanship.
- Innovative Cleaning: Toxic lead dust from the fire was removed with powerful vacuums. Stones were cleaned with latex sprays and gels, revealing their original colors and texture.
- Traditional Carpentry: Carpenters used medieval tools to craft the intricate oak roof framework, nicknamed “the forest” for its density. Approximately 2,000 oak trees were felled to rebuild the roof and spire, with visible hand axe marks reflecting the workers’ meticulous efforts.
A National Symbol Restored
The unveiling marks a significant step in the nation’s recovery from the 2019 tragedy. Notre Dame attracted millions of visitors annually before the fire, and its reconstruction has been called the “building site of the century.”
Addressing hundreds of workers gathered inside the cathedral, Macron expressed gratitude for their dedication, saying, “The inferno of Notre Dame was a wound for the nation. And you were its remedy.”
Looking Ahead
The reopening festivities begin with Macron’s address on December 7, followed by a consecration Mass at the new altar on December 8. Parisians and visitors alike will once again have the chance to experience the cathedral’s awe-inspiring beauty and spiritual significance.
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