‘Dazzling’ Notre Dame Reopens Five Years After Fire

France is set to reopen the doors of its iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday, five years after it was ravaged by a devastating fire. The reopening ceremony, attended by numerous world leaders, marks the triumphant restoration of the Paris landmark, which had been closed since the 2019 blaze that destroyed its roof and spire.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed the cathedral’s renaissance as a testament to French creativity and resilience. The reopening, which comes at a difficult time for the country, will be officially marked when the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, opens the doors at 1800 GMT, knocking three times to signify the beginning of the nearly two-hour ceremony.

Macron has secured the attendance of US President-elect Donald Trump for the event, alongside over 40 other dignitaries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William of the UK. Philippe Jost, head of the restoration project, described the cathedral as “a cathedral like we have never seen before,” expressing pride in the collective achievement that he said is a “source of pride for all of France.”

However, harsh weather forced a last-minute change in plans, moving Macron’s speech indoors and pre-recording a concert originally scheduled for after the ceremony. The concert, featuring performances by Chinese pianist Lang Lang, South African opera singer Pretty Yende, and an orchestra conducted by Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel, was pre-recorded on Friday night due to forecasts of strong winds up to 80 kilometers per hour. US singer Pharrell Williams is also believed to have participated.

While the reopening celebrates the restoration of a beloved national symbol, it occurs amid political turmoil in France, with the country grappling with a government crisis and budget issues. Macron hopes the event will provide a moment of national pride and unity, akin to the sense of togetherness felt during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

The scale of the security operation reflects the significance of the event, with around 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilized to ensure safety. Macron, speaking ahead of the ceremony, emphasized the achievement, saying, “This is proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible.”

Despite this, Macron had already revealed much of the cathedral’s newly restored features, including freshly cleaned limestone walls, new furniture, and a wooden roof made from ancient oak trees selected from the best forests in France. The restoration, which cost approximately 700 million euros (around $750 million), was funded by donations and completed within five years, far quicker than the decades initially predicted.

Audrey Azoulay, head of UNESCO, praised the restoration as “dazzling,” noting that the project was a product of global cooperation and the application of traditional French craftsmanship.

Former President Donald Trump, who accepted Macron’s invitation to attend, called the restoration “wonderful,” praising Macron for ensuring the cathedral was “restored to its full level of glory, and even more so.” Trump arrived in Paris on a private plane, followed by Zelensky later in the day. US President Joe Biden will be represented by his wife, Jill Biden.

One notable absentee was Pope Francis, who is visiting Corsica instead. However, a message from the Pope, addressed to the French people, will be read during the ceremony.

 

The fire that nearly destroyed Notre Dame in 2019 shocked Parisians and the world. The cathedral, made famous by Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is one of the most visited monuments globally. The blaze, which many saw as a symbol of the decline of Western civilization, was halted only by the heroic efforts of firefighters. Although the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, investigators believe it was likely an accident, such as an electrical fault.

On Sunday, the first mass at the cathedral will be held at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), with 170 bishops and over 100 Paris priests in attendance. A second public service will take place at 6:30 pm.