More than five years after Notre Dame Cathedral was heavily damaged by a fire, it’s slated to reopen this month.
The fire broke out in the attic and Paris’ iconic cathedral spire collapsed into the church.
The flames spread to the wooden framework inside the north tower, which supports eight large bells. Had those balls fallen, both towers might have collapsed, potentially destroying the entire cathedral.
It’s still not known what caused the fire, though investigators have said it likely was a cigarette left behind by a construction worker (the cathedral was undergoing renovations at the time) or an electrical short.
In announcing plans for the reopening, Archbishop of Paris, Mgr. Laurent Ulrich shared that celebrations will take place from Dec. 8 to June 8, 2025.
Although it may seem like a lengthy process, the restoration required extensive work. Approximately 2,000 construction workers and artists from the U.S. and Paris worked around the clock to meet the December deadline. Ancient techniques had to be used to rebuild the roof’s woodwork and spire.
Initially, experts believed the work could take anywhere from 10 to 40 years. Later, there was hope the cathedral would reopen by the time of the Paris Olympics.
It’s reported that Pope Francis will travel to Paris to celebrate the inaugural Mass for the reopening.
The final renovation cost hasn’t been determined, but at last check, it had reached $587 million, funded in part by donations.
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