Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens After 5 Years: $1 Billion Restoration

Berfin Ceren Meray
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After a devastating fire that burned for 8.5 hours in 2019, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is finally ready to welcome visitors again. This 861-year-old masterpiece, hailed by Victor Hugo as a 'perfect blend of monumental grandeur and delicate elegance,' has undergone a $1 billion restoration to erase the scars of the tragedy. French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the site, offering a glimpse of the transformed landmark ahead of its grand reopening. Curious to see how this world treasure has been reborn? Let’s explore its remarkable restoration journey! 🌟🇫🇷

Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the most famous structures in the world, began construction in 1163.

Located in Paris, the capital of France, Notre Dame is a significant symbol of the city. It suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire in 2019. The fire lasted approximately 8.5 hours.

The flames spread rapidly, causing one of the spires and the roof to collapse entirely.

The northern bell tower and the main building were saved after hours of firefighting efforts. The fire, which involved 500 firefighters, was brought under control after 8.5 hours.

The extent of the damage to Notre Dame became evident when viewed from above.

French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the cathedral within five years. Donations from around the world raised a restoration budget of $1 billion.

Macron kept his five-year promise.

Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen on December 7, five years after the fire. A grand event with 2,000 invitees will mark the reopening, with world leaders also invited. These include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. President Joe Biden, former U.S. President Donald Trump, King Charles III of the United Kingdom, King Felipe VI of Spain, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not invited.

The cathedral's interior was seen for the first time during Macron's visit.

Expressing gratitude to the 1,300 individuals involved in the restoration work, Macron said, 'You created art from the ashes.'

The Pope will not attend the reopening of one of Christianity's most important symbols.

The Vatican announced that the 88-year-old Pope will not participate in the opening ceremony on December 7. However, the Pope will attend a conference in another part of France on December 15. His decision not to attend the reopening has sparked controversy. While Notre Dame officials stated, 'On opening day, the star is the cathedral, not the Pope's visit,'sources close to the Vatican suggested that the Pope preferred to visit places that are 'more popular and in greater need.'