Luckily, the vaulted ceiling contained much of the fire, and many of the artworks and relics, including the great organ, were saved. The main structure, including the bell towers and rose windows, was also unharmed.
How was Notre-Dame restored?
Restoring the Notre-Dame—especially on such a short timeline—was no small feat. As AD reported in its December issue, nearly 250 firms, specializing in fields such as metal work, carpentry, and stained glass, were a part of the project.
“Engineers stabilized and secured the edifice’s exterior, including its elegant flying buttresses; masons used 35,000 cubic feet of limestone to replace what had been marred; specialized teams gently cleaned walls and statues, at times with lasers, to remove soot; art conservationists repaired paintings damaged by smoke and water; and woodworkers re-created the original oak roof structure,” writes AD contributor Dana Thomas.
Even undamaged parts of the building received attention. Both towers, which weren’t harmed, were cleaned and fortified. Restoration teams also updated the bell’s ringing mechanism and the great organ. Modern safety measures, including alarms, updated fire walls, and sprinklers, were also installed.
When will Notre-Dame reopen?
Notre-Dame will reopen to the public on Sunday, December 8, 2024. An invitation-only reopening ceremony will take place on December 7, which will be broadcast globally. President Macron will begin the festivities with a speech in the courtyard to commemorate the restoration success. “It will be a republican and secular moment before a religious and musical moment in Notre-Dame,” the Élysée Palace said in a statement.
Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, the archbishop of Paris, will then officially reopen the cathedral by banging his crosier on the main door. As The Guardian reports, he will then “‘wake up’ the grand organ in what was described as a ‘verbal and musical exchange.’”
How to visit the reopened Notre-Dame
Entrance to Notre-Dame has always been free and will remain so when it reopens. To avoid long lines, visitors can book a timed entrance through the cathedral’s official website. According to National Geographic, the booking platform will launch in early December. Without a reserved time slot, visitors can still access the cathedral, but the wait is estimated to take two to three hours.
