Five years after a devastating fire tore through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the world is catching its first glimpse of the painstaking restoration work aimed at reviving the iconic 860-year-old Gothic masterpiece.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Friday, accompanied by photographers and journalists, to witness the progress of the meticulous €700 million (over £860 million) restoration project.
“What a transformation,” Macron remarked, marvelling at the gleaming, freshly cleaned white stones, according to Reuters.
Macron expressed his gratitude to the nearly 400 firefighters who saved the cathedral from complete destruction during the tragic blaze on 15 April 2019. That day, flames consumed the roof and spire, leaving the main structure heavily damaged and filling the skies with smoke.
“The fire at Notre Dame was a national wound, and you were the remedy,” Macron said, addressing around 1,300 workers gathered to celebrate the restoration’s achievements. “Your determination, hard work, and commitment made this possible.”
The fire destroyed the cathedral’s spire and roof, leaving gaping holes in the vaulted ceilings and exposing the interior to the elements. Smoke and water damage added to the immense challenge of the restoration.
When the fire was finally extinguished, Macron promised the public, “We will rebuild the cathedral to be even more beautiful, and I want it completed within five years.”
On Friday, he gazed up at the soaring ceilings and pristine stonework, now carefully restored to their former glory.
Gone are the jagged openings and charred debris that once scarred the cathedral. New stonework has been painstakingly crafted to fill the wounds, recreating the grandeur of the original design. Golden angels once again grace the ceilings, appearing to soar over the transept with renewed splendour.
The cathedral’s limestone walls, now a bright, creamy hue, have been thoroughly cleaned—not just of the soot and chemicals from the fire but also of centuries of grime. The transformation is striking, with the building looking as if it had just been completed.
Before any restoration could begin, workers first had to remove toxic materials and stabilise the structure. Layers of latex were sprayed onto the surfaces and peeled away, drawing out dirt from the stones’ pores and crevices. Over 42,000 square metres of stonework—an area equivalent to six football pitches—were cleaned and decontaminated.
“It feels as if it was built yesterday, as if Notre Dame has just been born,” said stonemason Adrien Willeme, who worked on the project. “The careful restoration and cleaning make it look extraordinary.”
Craftspeople from around the world, masters in their respective fields, worked tirelessly to honour the cathedral’s history. They even recreated tools used by the original builders nearly 900 years ago to ensure the restoration matched the building’s appearance when it was first completed in 1345.
The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral is not only a testament to human resilience and craftsmanship but also a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of this architectural marvel.
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