As the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral approaches after extensive restoration, the iconic structure is still surrounded by protective fencing. Following the devastating fire in 2019, ambitious plans were set to rebuild the cathedral, with significant contributions from donors totaling €846 million. Despite challenges like the pandemic, the project remains focused on restoring Notre-Dame to its original glory, with the reopening now scheduled for December 8, 2024.
As the momentous reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris draws near, the iconic structure remains enveloped by protective fencing. After enduring five years and eight months of extensive restoration work, the finishing touches are finally being applied. ‘It’s the end, finally! It’s a great moment! A great moment, it’s privileged, it’s really… finally, we can breathe a little,’ exclaims Lahrsen Sanana, the team leader, reflecting on the monumental journey in the report at the beginning of this article. Standing before the magnificent choir, gazing at the pristine white walls and closed vaults, while listening to the first melodious notes of the organ, our team acknowledges the remarkable progress made.
On the fateful evening of April 15, 2019, as flames engulfed Notre-Dame, a crowd of stunned onlookers gathered in the square. TF1 captured a prophetic statement from a witness: ‘We will rebuild this cathedral, and the whole world will help us because we are a people of builders, we are courageous, we will not be defeated like that, we will rebuild it as beautiful as before,’ he declared. The very next day, a bold ambition was set forth. ‘Yes, we will rebuild the Notre-Dame Cathedral even more beautiful, and I want it to be completed within five years. We can do it,’ proclaimed Emmanuel Macron during an impassioned speech.
A Daring Challenge
‘I don’t know where he found that figure, but it was a daring challenge because it worked. He played well. He was lucky,’ noted chief architect Philippe Villeneuve in our report. Captured on the morning of April 16, 2019, during his initial inspection, he remarked on the severity of the destruction: water from firefighting efforts cascaded through the nave, revealing shattered vaults and devastated roofs. Nevertheless, he embraced the ambitious timeline. ‘For me, on the 16th, it was OK, I will do it in five years and let’s go. It was my obsession. I was, but annoying how obsessed I was with this deadline,’ he shared.
Another key player in this monumental task was General Georgelin, appointed by the President to oversee the newly established public entity dedicated to Notre-Dame’s restoration. The immediate priority was to dismantle the charred scaffolding, a process that took a year and a half to complete. Coordinating operations among up to 250 companies and 500 workers on-site presented its own challenges. ‘At first, we didn’t believe it; we couldn’t imagine it was possible, and then a magic happened,’ recalled Philippe Mouton, the planning pilot for the project.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic intervened, significantly hindering progress and enforcing strict protocols. Consequently, the reopening has been rescheduled for December 8, 2024, marking five years and eight months since the devastating fire. A significant factor in the success of this endeavor has been the generosity of donors, with €846 million raised—€700 million of which has already been allocated towards the restoration. The reconstruction of the spire, along with the installation of the needle at the top, was executed in just one year.
Philippe Jost, who took the reins of the organization following General Georgelin’s passing, emphasized the importance of rebuilding the cathedral to its original design. ‘We were inscribing ourselves in the continuity of the history of the cathedral, in full respect of the monument. And I believe that mattered in the mobilization of everyone,’ he concluded.