On the evening of April 15, 2019, a fire broke out on the roof of the cathedral.
Five years after a devastating fire, restoration of Notre Dame is nearly complete as the world’s eyes turn to Paris for the Olympics.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, a fire broke out on the roof of the cathedral. Soon, it engulfed the spire and nearly brought down the main bell tower. Television viewers around the world watched in horror as the medieval building burned to the ground.
Macron, whose second and final term ends in 2027, hopes the cathedral’s restoration will boost national sentiment and his government’s approval ratings.
Macron said in his 2024 New Year’s address that “the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held only once in a century, and the cathedral is rebuilt only once in a millennium.”
It’s unclear exactly what caused the fire. French authorities said it could have been caused by an electrical fault or a burning cigarette.
“One of the firefighters told me, ‘Sir, take a good look at the facade, because if we don’t succeed in putting out the fire, everything will be in ruins,'” recalled Patrick Chauvet, the former chief chaplain of Notre Dame.
While the facade remains intact, the damage required five years of intense stabilization and restoration work.
The pride of those involved in the project is palpable.
Emma Roux, the craftsman responsible for the iconic stained glass windows, said: “This is the architectural job of a lifetime as it is very special to restore the entire monument in three dimensions.”
The reopening, planned for December, is on track, according to officials in charge of the project.
“We got it done on time and on budget,” Philip Yost told a Senate hearing last month.
Jost told lawmakers that the project, which has cost 550 million euros ($587 million) so far, was funded in part by numerous donations, including from luxury goods billionaire Francois Henri Pinault. and donations from the Arnault family. The donation was so large that there was even money left over that could be used to further invest in the building, he said.
Jost added: “If approved by the sponsors, a further €150 million should be made available to restore the cathedral and address problems that arose before the fire, mainly involving the external stonework.”
Yost, 63, a trained engineer who spent most of his career in the Department of Defense, was killed in a hiking accident in August 2023 by his predecessor, Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin. After his death, Jost took over the job.
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