Notre Dame de Paris: A Glorious Restoration and Reopening

On April 15th, 2019 a spark triggered a devastating fire that consumed the Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. Although the exact cause remains unknown, the flames ravaged the most iconic religious monument in Paris, the symbolic center of the city for over 800 years. The fire burned through the wooden roof, known as the forest (La Fôret), whose oak beams dated to the 13th century.  The 19th-century spire, designed by Viollet-le-Duc, was also destroyed. The falling debris, the smoke and the water caused substantial damage to the UNESCO world heritage site.

the devastating fire at Notre Dame de Paris, Marind / CC

Stunned Parisians and viewers from the around the world watched in disbelief as the Parisian firemen battled the blaze. The bravery of the firefighters and their perilous job became the subject of films and documentaries. Immediately following the extinction of the flames, a 760 million euro restoration project was launched, sponsored by French state and private donations,  The challenge was daunting: gothic cathedrals were built over centuries, how could Notre Dame de Paris be restored respecting both the materials and the medieval technology that created it? This National Geographic short video shows the scope of the monumental project.

Notre Dame interior after fire. Larry Koester / Flickr

A public corporation, Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, was named to oversee the project with an ambitious plan to reopen in five years. Thanks to a dedicated workforce that also included historians, architects, archeologists, curators and restorers that day has finally arrived !  On Dec 8, 2024 Notre Dame de Paris will reopen to the public. 

Installing wooden supports under the flying buttresses. Photo: Ministère de la Culture / Marie-Helène Didier

The scope of the restoration was both astounding and unique: teams were organized in Paris and around the country gathering masons, sculptors, painters, carpenters and glass makers to restore 1,000 cubic meters of stone, gathering 2,000 oak trees from French forests to rebuild the roof , and highly skilled restorers for the  3,000 square meters of stained glass. Thankfully, a digitalized project recording the roof, begun in 2014, conceived to document medieval building techniques served as a blueprint for the rebuilding of the charpenterie (the carpentry work).

The complexity of the restoration was even more challenging since all these parts had to be assembled 315 feet above the ground! These specialist craftsmen have acquired precious knowledge of medieval building techniques and can transmit their expertise to future generations. 

New Bells of Notre-Dame, February 2013. Myrabella / CC

The sound of these workmen and women was recorded and broadcast for the opening ceremony of the Olympic games. One of the bells from the Olympic games, rung by athletes when they won a gold medal, resounded across the city when the historic bells were returned to the belltower on November 8, 2024. These bells will be reinstalled in the building. 

Over the course of these past five years, Parisians have been carefully observing the various stages of the rebuilding of cathedral in the city center. The scaffolding was removed from the new spire this spring and the roof has been finished up over the summer – both of which truly seem identical to before the fire. Inside, many of the cathedral’s sacred objects and paintings were saved and will be returned to their original locations. Painted chapels, statues, the beautifully carved 14th-century choir screen, and the cathedral’s black and white flooring have also been refurbished. New liturgical furniture,  display cases, 1,500 oak chairs, and several new stained-glass windows will be installed.

Notre Dame under renovations – Qi Li / Unsplash

The reopening will be a grand two-day affair and involve a lineup of prestigious guests. These will begin on the evening of December 7th with only dignitaries and the clergy and the general public will be admitted as of December 8th. However, the repairs aren’t entirely completed, so at least for the first weeks, only 2,500 visitors will be allowed per day, compared to approximately 30,000 before the fire. 

A considerable number of visitors are expected, but luckily, there will be the option of reserving a time slot in advance instead of waiting in long lines. You’ll be able to do this through the “Compagnon de Visite” app, a link to which will be available on the cathedral’s website around December 1st and downloadable from the Android and Apple stores. The app will also have information about the history and architecture of the cathedral, so you can also use it during your visit.

Sorting pieces of debris © Alexis Komenda / C2RMF / Ministère de la Culture

In addition to the timed entrance bookings, visitors will now enter from the central portal and will have to follow a clockwise route, unlike the free movement from before the fire. Visitors won’t be able to climb Notre Dame’s iconic towers just yet as they are still ongoing renovations.

In the first weeks of its opening, there will be an array of special events including free concerts, so these will add to the appeal of visiting in December and especially over the holiday season. You’ll find these on the cathedral’s official website in the “highlights” tab closer to the reopening date.

If you would like to book a custom tour of Notre Dame de Paris, please Contact us for further information.