Notre lady will soon open: Important information about reopening

Notre lady will soon open: Important information about reopening

Notre Dame, the esteemed Gothic jewel in Paris, which went up in flames in 2019, will be officially reopened on Saturday. Immediately after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron made the ambitious promise to restore the cathedral within five years. On Friday, he praised the hundreds of craftsmen, carpenters and other specialists who helped him keep this promise while completing his last visit to the construction site.

The restoration of Notre Dame: A national pride project

"You did it. And it is an immense source of pride for the entire nation. I am infinitely grateful to you, France is infinitely grateful," said Macron. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the upcoming days.

What has happened so far?

On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame was recorded by a devastating fire. The cause of the fire is still a mystery. Investigators assume that it was probably an accident, possibly caused by a burning cigarette or an electrical defect. France-and a large part of the world-was in mourning when the 860-year-old Cathedral-roof broke in and covered the stone floor with soot. Macron described it as a "terrible tragedy" and promised to "rebuild the historical landmark because it deserves our story".

million for the restoration

Some of the country's richest business people have promised hundreds of million euros for the restoration. After more than 2,000 days of work - with a team of 2,000 people, 2,000 oak trees and 2,000 restored or rescue elements - the world received a first look at "Our Lady of Paris" last week when the French President visited the restored landmark together with his wife Brigitte and a group of spiritual

celebrations for reopening

The official reopening begins with a ceremony on Saturday, followed by eight days with special trade fairs and asked. The guest list will be long and illustrated, but the most prominent participant will be Donald Trump. The designated US President announced this week that he will travel to Paris-his first trip abroad since the elections last month-for which "a very special day for everyone" was announced. The ceremony is expected to attract around 50 heads of state and government.

The big day: what happens on Saturday?

Macron will give a speech in front of the cathedral at around 6 p.m. (12 p.m. ET). The Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will then beat the closed door of the cathedral with his staff. As soon as the doors are opened, the cathedral "replies" to knock on the knocking by psalm 121 - which starts with "I pick up my eyes to the mountains" - sings three times. Then the doors are opened.

The first trade fairs after reopening

The ceremony runs in three parts. First the "awakening" of the big organ - the largest in France with 8,000 whistles and 115 registers. Second, the "singing of the office" - a number of psalms and prayers, including the Lord's Prayer. Finally, the archbishop will give a last blessing and the choir will sing the Te Deum, a Latin anthem. The service is accompanied by a report on French television that documents the reconstruction of the cathedral.

When does the first trade fair take place?

The first fair will take place on Sunday morning around 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m.), present with Macron. After the holy water was blessed, the archbishop will go beyond the community and then over the altar. The biblical readings during the fair will be the same worldwide and mark the second Sunday of Advent. A second fair will be held on Sunday evening, which is accessible to the public.

and afterwards?

In the eight days after the reopening, two trade fairs and special evening ceremonies are held every day. Many of these services will be accessible to the public. On December 17th and 18th, the cathedral concerts of Johann Sebastian Bach will organize "Magnificat". The cathedral expects to welcome up to 15 million visitors every year. The visit is currently free. Guests can book a free ticket online and enter the building either on the same day or one or two days after the booking.