Notre-Dame's Grand Reopening: A New Dawn

Published: 2024-11-13

Notre-Dame de Paris is set to reopen on December 7, marking a significant milestone five years after a devastating fire.

The reopening will be celebrated with a liturgical ceremony, followed by a public mass the next day.

President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech on the cathedral's parvis, honoring the artisans and donors who contributed to the restoration.

The event underscores the cathedral's symbolic rebirth and the international interest it garners.

The eight bells of the northern belfry, restored and returned to their original place, will ring together for the first time since the fire, symbolizing a new beginning for this iconic monument.

The reopening also sparks a debate over the replacement of 19th-century stained glass windows with contemporary designs, a decision facing legal challenges from heritage defenders.