The Gothic masterpiece is set to open its doors once again on December 7.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, the unthinkable happened.
A large fire razed the roof of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. The inferno tore through the spire and toppled the main bell towers. The world watched with horror and helplessness as the seemingly indestructible medieval icon was being engulfed by flames.


To this day, it remains unclear what exactly caused the catastrophic fire. French authorities, however, have said the incident was an accident, likely due to an electrical fault or a burning cigarette.
Five and a half years and thousands of hours of painstaking repair and restoration work later, the beloved French landmark is set to open its doors to visitors again on December 7, per a report on Reuters.
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A solemn opening ceremony
To officially open the cathedral again, President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to deliver a speech in front of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris at about 12 p.m., Manila time. The President already visited last Friday, November 29, to thank the firefighters who doused the flames and those who were in charge of the reconstruction, according to CNN.
After President Macron’s speech on opening day, Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will use his crosier (a hooked staff carried by a bishop) to knock on the cathedral’s heavy doors. In response, a psalm will be sung three times from within the cathedral, after which the doors will be opened. The archbishop will bless the cathedral’s ancient organ before it starts playing. The Holy Eucharist will follow.


The following day, December 8, the archbishop will celebrate a Mass, starting at 4 p.m. Manila time. This will be the first of eight thanksgiving Masses across eight days focused on thanking, among others, donors who paid for the renovations and firefighters who helped save the much loved cathedral. Some of the Masses will be open to the public.
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When can we visit?
The general public can visit on the evening of December 8 from 5.30 to 8 p.m. but long queues are expected.
Cathedral authorities say that from early December, visitors will be able to book a free ticket on its website. This will allow access to the cathedral on the same day or one or two days after booking. There will also be a queue on the spot for those who want to enter without a booking.


Religious tour groups can only get access starting February 1, and June 9 for tourists with guides.
Being one of the City of Light’s most popular sights, the cathedral expects to welcome its usual 14 to 15 million visitors every year. There is a huge debate in France over whether visitors should pay to get in. The Church is against it, so for now visiting remains free.
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A ‘painstaking’ five-year process
The POST reported on how the process of reconstructing and restoring Notre-Dame de Paris had been long, arduous, and “painstaking.” Authorities decided to rebuild the 12th century monument “the way it was before,” which includes recreating the 93-meter-high (315 ft) spire added in the 19th century by architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc.
The pandemic delayed work at the cathedral. It was only in June 2020 when the removal of the charred scaffolding that had encased the spire was completed.
In August 2020, efforts to restore the cathedral’s organ commenced. France’s largest musical instrument, the 8,000-pipe organ survived the fire, but was left coated in toxic lead dust.
Actual reconstruction started in Spring 2022, after more than two years of work to make the monument stable and secure enough for artisans to start rebuilding it.
Not everything was damaged in the fire. For instance, emergency workers formed a human chain to whisk gem-studded chalices and other priceless artifacts out of harm’s way.


Money poured in from all over the world. Among the most prominent donors were French luxury sector billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. However, the numbers behind the reconstruction efforts are staggering. Restoring the Notre Dame to its former glory cost an estimated €700 million ($737 million), according to Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris, the public body responsible for the work.
Still, so much money has been donated—more than 840 million euros ($882 million), according to President Macron’s office—that there will even be funds left over for further investment in the building.
More than the large amount of money needed to reconstruct the historical monument were the materials used in its rebuilding: The tallest oak felled was 27 meters tall (88 feet high), 1,300 cubic meters of stone were replaced, the 8,000 organ pipes cleaned and retuned, and 1,500 solid oak pews hewed.
At the heart of the reconstruction project were over 2,000 dedicated artisans who lent their time and their expertise to see Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris rise from the ashes.
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More beautiful than ever


Officials say the cathedral will be more beautiful than ever. The spire, roof, and everything else destroyed by the fire were meticulously rebuilt by expert craftsmen. In the process, the stones and paintings, which had blackened over the years, have also been thoroughly cleaned. The cathedral’s furniture was likewise renovated and cleaned, or replaced.
With the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris back to its former splendor, maybe it’s a sign for you to book your ticket to Paris soon!