Tourists, locals, and worshippers will soon be able to return to the iconic medieval French Gothic-style Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral’s history, gorgeous architecture, unique art, stained-glass windows, and special artifacts have attracted crowds for centuries.
Unfortunately, the Notre-Dame Cathedral closed after a fire ravaged the spires atop the structure in 2019. According to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, an investigation that included over 100 witnesses suggested that an electrical short circuit caused the fire. The fire initially started in the cathedral’s main spire, but spread across the roof, further damaging the landmark.
Since then, restoration efforts have been underway and the cathedral was set to open at the end of 2024, according to the Paris Tourist Office. Recently, French Army General Jean-Louis Georgelin announced that the reopening would take place in December 2024.
Restoration Effort
The majority of the devastation caused by the fire in April 2019 was to the cathedral’s spire and roof. The Établissement Public is managing the restoration process and making sure that the cathedral is restored in a historically accurate manner.
According to the Friends of Notre-Dame Cathedral, “After the completion of the Safety Phase in 2021, 2022 marks an important step forward as we rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral.”
Going into 2023, much of the rebuild is yet to be completed. If you’re curious about updates on the cathedral’s restoration, make sure to follow the Friends of Notre-Dame.
2024 Summer Olympics
During his visit to Notre Dame on the second anniversary of the fire, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, initially promised that the cathedral would be open to visitors by the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
However, that promise will not come to fruition as the restoration needs more time to be completed. Unfortunately, this means that tourists who were looking forward to visiting Notre Dame around the time of the 2024 Summer Olympics will no longer be able to.
However, there is an alternative activity to experience in the meantime before the cathedral reopens.
Notre-Dame De Paris: At The Heart Of The Construction Site
A new attraction recently opened for those visiting the monument before its reopening.
“Notre-Dame de Paris: At The Heart Of The Construction Site” is a virtual reality show that will showcase the cathedral’s history, how the restoration efforts are going, and what to expect at the cathedral’s reopening. The show will also display some of the destruction that the fire caused, such as the charred roof timbers. This virtual reality show is great for people who want to visit the iconic landmark during its closure.
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