Displaying items by tag: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen on 7 December, after a five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. Ceremonies will blend tradition and modernity, including a symbolic door-striking ritual led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich and a solemn Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (8 December). The restored cathedral features a mix of Gothic preservation and contemporary updates, such as a new altar and reliquary, sparking debate but garnering widespread admiration. Restoration efforts exceeded funding goals, totaling €700 million, and Paris anticipates a renewed influx of visitors. Somewhat surprisingly, Donald Trump’ will be there, joining nearly fifty world leaders: security will be tight, with 6,000 personnel deployed. Conspicuously absent, however, is Pope Francis, whose refusal to attend has fuelled speculation about the Vatican’s priorities. As Notre Dame prepares to welcome the faithful once again, its reopening symbolises resilience and the enduring significance of sacred spaces.

otre Dame suffered desecration during the 1789 French Revolution and was restored by 1804, when it was the venue for Napoleon’s coronation as emperor of France. A restoration project between 1844 and 1864 added the cathedral's iconic spire, which was destroyed in a fire on 15 April when Notre Dame was undergoing renovation. Fortunately the copper statues that were normally on the now collapsed spire had been removed a week earlier in the renovation process, and both towers were also safe, but two-thirds of the roof was destroyed. Many artefacts were saved before the fire spread to other parts of the cathedral. France will invite architects from around the world to submit designs for a new spire that is adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era, as thoughts turn to how to reconstruct what has been lost. President Macron vowed it will be rebuilt ‘even more beautifully’. See