Unveiling the Multimillion-Dollar Renovation of Notre Dame Cathedral
An awe-inspiring endeavor: A team of 500 skilled artisans tirelessly restore the iconic Notre Dame cathedral, preparing it for a grand reopening in under a year, preserving its historical legacy for the 21st century
The spire of Notre Dame, adorned with a new golden rooster, was reinstalled in the Paris skyline last week. While tourists and Parisians gathered outside the UNESCO-listed cathedral to witness the return of one of its most iconic features, the Notre Dame construction site continued to bustle with nearly 500 craftspeople diligently working to rebuild and restore the beloved landmark in time for its anticipated reopening to the public in less than a year.
"Observing the restoration of something with such historical significance is truly fascinating," remarked Stephan Book, a tourist from Sweden, as he visited Paris with his daughter and 80-year-old father. "And the goal to complete it all within five years," he continued, "It's reminiscent of when Kennedy declared that humans would land on the moon."
Some 500 craftspeople are working on the cathedral repairs.
Ian Langsdon/Pool/Reuters
The recent construction site visit was made by President Emmanuel Macron who assured that the works for Notre Dame were "on schedule" for the building to open to the public on December 8, 2024. This comes five years and seven months after the devastating fire that destroyed large parts of the 860-year-old landmark in April 2019. In Rome, a 2,300-year-old mosaic made of shells and coral has been unearthed.
"The upper part of the spire will be un-scaffolded and most of the roofing will be completed by the time the Olympic Games begin in July. This will allow Parisians and visitors to witness how close the cathedral is to reopening," said Philippe Jost of Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris to the French parliament on December 13. The anticipation of re-entering the cathedral is already stirring excitement among those admiring the gothic structure from the outside.
People watch the landmark Notre-Dame cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019- Investigations did not identify the exact cause of the fire.
Stephan's father, Göran Book, reminisced about his previous visits to Paris, recalling his first visit 60 years ago and then another 40 years ago. He fondly remembers entering Notre Dame on each visit. Now at 80 years old, he expressed his hope to return next year to see the reopening, if he is still alive.
A monumental effort
Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris involves the collaboration of nearly 250 companies and art workshops across France, all dedicated to "working on the cathedrals renaissance." These include carpenters, stonemasons, scaffolders, sculptors, gilders, glassmakers, and even organ builders, who are tasked with restoring the 8,000 pipes and 115 stops of Notre Dame's great organ, the largest in France.
Following the 2019 fire, the initial two years were dedicated to securing the building, finalizing project studies, and awarding tenders. The restoration phase commenced in September 2021. In recent months, significant progress has been made in the restoration of the roof framework, spire, and large upper galleries.
Alban Dubois, who works as a waiter in Cafe Panis, just across the street from Notre Dame, has been observing the daily progress from the windows of his workplace.
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On the day of the notorious fire, he was working as a waiter and distinctly recalls observing the flames intensify and feeling the increasing heat from the windows of his restaurant. "The customers were all gathered inside, watching in disbelief," he recounted. "Some were in tears⦠It was a very tragic scene."
Dubois is eagerly anticipating the reopening of the cathedral and anticipates a large influx of visitors. He likened the event to an inauguration, emphasizing the significance of this momentous occasion. Jost predicts that an estimated 14 million visitors will come to witness the restoration of Notre Dame.
Marking the 21st century
President Macron has also expressed a desire for our century to "have its place among the many others that feature in the works of this cathedral," while Notre Dame's original appearance will be restored.
While many elements of the building's reconstruction will remain true to the original, President Macron is also keen for elements of the landmark to "mark" the 21st century.
Earlier this month, he revealed a contest inviting modern artists to reimagine six stained glass windows on the southern side of Notre Dame, aiming to commemorate the 21st century.
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In a similar tribute, the name of the French general who led the Notre Dame reconstruction before his tragic death earlier this year was engraved in the wood of the spire. Jean-Louis Georgelin will forever be a part of Notre Dame, according to Macron, who participated in the engraving process on December 8th, the day the cathedral's oak spire was restored.
The 2,000 names of individuals who contributed to the restoration of Notre Dame have been immortalized in the new cathedral. On December 16, a sealed tube was placed inside the golden rooster at the top of the spire, containing a document listing the names of all those involved in the reconstruction.
Architect Philippe Villeneuve designed the new golden rooster atop the spire, which houses relics saved from the 2019 fire that ravaged the monument, along with a document containing the names of those involved in its reconstruction. (Image: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images)
The previous rooster on the cathedral spires was discovered damaged in the rubble the day after the fire, containing the relics of Saint Denis, Saint Geneviève, and a fragment of Christ's crown of thorns. These relics have now been transferred to the new rooster, as confirmed by the Diocese of Paris.
The old rooster, along with six stained glass windows set for replacement, will be showcased in a new museum dedicated to Notre Dame, recently announced by Macron. He described it as a museum of art, history, and the ongoing restoration of Notre Dame de Paris.
The reconstruction of Notre Dame is estimated to cost around 700 million euros ($767 million US dollars), with a total of 846 million euros ($928 million US dollars) raised from 340,000 donors in 150 countries, according to Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris. Jost has mentioned that any unspent donated funds will be utilized to further benefit the cathedral in various ways.
