Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France is set to reopen on December 8, five and a half years after a fire devastated the structure. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the renovated cathedral on December 7 and speak at the opening ceremony.
The ceremony begins at 6 pm local time with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich symbolically knocking on the cathedral doors. A psalm will be sung from inside, then the doors will open. The archbishop will bless the organ, and a service will follow. A public show will be broadcast from the square after the invitation-only service.
The first public Mass will be held on December 8 at 10.30 am. More Masses will occur over the following eight days. Some will be open to the public. Public visits start on the evening of December 8, from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. Free online booking will be available in early December through the cathedral’s website, social media, or a dedicated app. A queue will accommodate visitors without bookings. Group visits will only get access starting February next year.
The 2019 fire destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame. The cause remains unclear, with authorities citing a possible electrical fault or a discarded cigarette. The cathedral, a medieval Gothic masterpiece, has been a cultural icon for centuries. Its construction started in 1163 and continued for more than a century.
Over 840 million euros were donated for the restoration of the burnt Cathedral. Officials said the cathedral “will be more beautiful than ever,” citing cleaning of the stone and paintings, and renovation or replacement of furniture. Some artifacts were saved from the fire by emergency workers. The cathedral expects 14 to 15 million annual visitors.