The Notre Dame Cathedral, a 860-year-old landmark, reopened its doors five years after a devastating fire brought it to the brink of collapse. The ceremony was headed by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. World leaders like US President-elect Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Britain’s Prince William were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron. In a symbolic gesture of unity, Trump shook hands with Zelenskiy and other world leaders before sitting beside Macron. The event was also attended by Elon Musk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and former French presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
The restoration work returned the iconic spire, rib vaulting, and flying buttresses to their original grandeur. Thousands of artisans, from stonemasons to stained glass specialists have utilized age-old methods for ensuring authenticity and have dedicated five years to the project.
For residents of Paris, the reopening of the Church is deeply personal. Careworker Pascal Tordeux who has witnessed the reconstruction daily from his home, described the moment to be of profound importance. ‘’I watched it burn, and I saw it rising again,’’ he shared to Reuters. Tourists like Amanda Ngugyen commented on the transformation, stating it ‘’very special’’ to watch the cathedral restored. Group visits will also be allowed from next year starting from February 1, 2025 for religious groups, tourist with guides will be permitted from June 9.
Notre-Dame is expected to draw 15 million visitors as the free tickets are available online. Group tours will commence next year, further making the cathedral a center of cultural and spiritual connection. More than €840 million has been raised for restoring the cathedral and for ensuring that its legacy lives on for future generations. Visitors can also be able to reserve free online tickets from the official website of the Cathedral. Group visits will be allowed next year – from Feb. 1 for religious groups or from June 9 for tourists with guides. There was a huge demand for tickets on the first day of bookings, as all of them got sold, thus indicating the global excitement regarding the cathedral’s reopening.
(With inputs from Reuters)