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Emmanuel Macron has praised the craftsmen and women who worked tirelessly to restore Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire in 2019. During a televised tour on Friday, the French president highlighted the monumental achievement of rebuilding the cathedral, calling it "repaired, reinvented, and rebuilt." The renovation, which cost an estimated €700 million, included the restoration of the medieval roof structure and the careful cleaning of soot and grime that had accumulated over the years. Macron, alongside his wife Brigitte and the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, began a series of ceremonies leading up to the official reopening on December 7.
Notre-Dame de Paris.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 29, 2024
Dernière visite de chantier avant la réouverture.https://t.co/YDlhum5by8
The fire that tore through Notre-Dame on April 15, 2019, caused significant damage, destroying the spire, roof beams, and part of the interior, but miraculously sparing most of the artwork, stained-glass windows, and sacred relics. No one was killed in the blaze, and thanks to the efforts of 600 firefighters, the structure was saved. The renovation project was spearheaded by Jean-Louis Georgelin, a military general, who passed away in 2023, and was succeeded by Philippe Jost.
Macron's ambitious promise to reopen Notre-Dame within five years was met with skepticism but was ultimately realized with public donations, including €846 million raised for the restoration. Over 2,000 skilled artisans worked on the project, with the renovation becoming a global showcase for French craftsmanship. While some modern design proposals for the cathedral were rejected, including a glass roof and eco-roof, the renovation stayed largely true to its original medieval and 19th-century designs. The only major debate remains over the modern stained-glass windows in six chapels, with many in the French arts community opposing Macron’s vision.
The reopening of Notre-Dame, which has been a symbol of French resilience, comes at a critical time for Macron, whose political approval has been low following tough parliamentary elections. The cathedral’s restoration project, though primarily a cultural and architectural feat, has also served as a morale booster for both France and Macron himself. Despite some criticism of his public involvement, Elysée officials argue that the rapid progress on the cathedral would not have been possible without Macron's leadership and urgent mobilization.
Source: BBC
