Notre-lady opens after five years: A masterpiece shines again!

Notre-lady opens after five years: A masterpiece shines again!

After more than five years of deprivation and pain, the legendary cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris finally opens its goals again! Next weekend, the masterpiece of Gothic architecture, which was severely damaged in 2019 by a devastating fire, will be accessible to the public again. A moment that makes the hearts of the French beat faster!

The reopening is celebrated with a pompous ceremony on Saturday, at which high -ranking heads of state and VIPs from all over the world are expected. Among them will also be the US President Donald Trump, who made his first trip abroad to Paris after his election victory. "President Macron did a great job to restore emergency lady in full splendor," he praised in a post on his platform. A day that will go into the history books!

an inferno shakes the nation

On the evening of April 15, 2019, the fire broke out on the roof of the cathedral. Flames led to the sky, while over 400 firefighters desperately tried to extinguish the flames. The inferno raged for 15 hours and left a picture of horror: the impressive wooden and metal column collapsed, the roof melted away and left a huge hole over the building. Fortunately, no visitors were injured, but three security officers suffered injuries.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, but an electrical defect or a thrown away cigarette could have been the culprit. The cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became a mourning for the nation when the toxic lead dust hovered over Paris and people fell into a deep sadness. In an emotional speech, Emmanuel Macron promised to restore the monument within five years and to make it even more beautiful than before.

a masterpiece of reconstruction

The reconstruction of Notre-Dame was a mammoth project that required around 2,000 workers. Over 840 million euros were collected by generous donors, including some of the richest business people in France. 150 countries, including the USA and Saudi Arabia, also made their contribution. Craftsmen and architects work tirelessly to put the cathedral back into their original shine.

The workers removed the thick soot and dirt from the walls with powerful vacuum cleaners and cleaning agents. Giant oak beams were beaten by hand to rebuild the roof and the Spire. A total of about 2,000 oaks were felled for this! But the work has not yet been completed - parts of the facade continue to be covered by scaffolding while the decorative elements are restored.

The solemn ceremony for reopening will run in three phases. The big organ, the largest France with 8,000 whistles, is "awakened". Psalms and prayers, including the Lord's Prayer, will follow before the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich. An impressive Te Deum will crown the service.

On Sunday the first trade fair for invited guests takes place, followed by a second evening mass to which the public is invited. Tickets were available free of charge in advance and quickly sold out. In the coming days, two special trade fairs will take place every day, which are accessible to many. Notre-lady is back-and the world watches averted!