Notre-Dame expected to reopen in December

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on December 7, 2024. This was confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron during a State visit to Germany, thus fulfilling the pledge made after the devastating fire that nearly destroyed the cathedral in 2019. Despite delays in reconstruction due to the pandemic and the discovery of archaeological remains under the foundations, the church will once again be accessible to the public while restoration work continues. Before the fire, Notre-Dame could accommodate up to 10,000 visitors at once, but to manage the large number of tourists expected for the reopening, entry will be limited to 2,500 people at a time for at least six months.

The spire and roof of the cathedral, destroyed in the fire witnessed with dismay worldwide on April 15, 2019, have been under reconstruction since 2022, following guidelines to restore them to their pre-fire condition. The spire has been rebuilt according to the 1859 design by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, while the monumental timber frame of the roof, known as the “forest”, has been reconstructed in oak wood using both medieval and modern carpentry techniques.

Following numerous controversies over the modernization projects initially endorsed by Macron, the government ultimately opted for a compromise solution, leaving room for new interventions in the square in front of the cathedral and surrounding areas. Shortly after the church reopens, construction of an underground visitor center and the redevelopment of the entire Parvis area will begin, a process that will continue until 2027.

Opening image: photo Jeanne Menjoulet from Flickr