The nave of Notre Dame Cathedral is seen while French President Emmanuel Macron visits the restored interiors of the building Friday in Paris.Five years after a fire tore through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the results of intensive and painstaking renovation work on the building were revealed ahead of its reopening on 8 December.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, toured the site, with video of their visit broadcast live. “This is overwhelming,” he said as he viewed the glistening, cleaned white stones, Reuters reported.
The altar, designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet, is seen in the heart of Notre Dame Cathedral.About 1,300 workers waited outside the cathedral for Macron’s arrival, with some expressing relief that the project finished on schedule.
“It was an exceptional renovation project,” said stone carver Samir Abbas, 38.
Macron and his wife, Brigitte, visit the restored interiors of the cathedral.France and the world watched in horror on April 15, 2019, as a fire that started in the roof space engulfed the structure in flames. Nearly 400 firefighters worked for nine hours to try to preserve the facade and works of art in the cathedral.
A picture taken on April 16, 2019, shows an interior view of the cathedral after a fire devastated the building.
Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame Cathedral as it burns on April 15, 2019 in Paris.The cathedral will reopen to the public Dec. 8. Visitors will be able to make reservations via the cathedral’s website up to two days in advance, or there will be a queue for people without reservations.
Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen in early December, with a weekend of ceremonies on Dec. 7 and 8.
Macron; his wife, Brigitte; French Minister of Culture and Heritage Rachida Dati; and Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich visit Notre Dame on Friday.
Some 250 companies and hundreds of experts were mobilized for the five-year restoration costing hundreds of millions of euros.
