PARIS – After five and a half years of careful rebuilding, the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is finally opening its doors again this Saturday. This iconic 860-year-old church, known for its beauty and history, was badly damaged by a huge fire in April 2019. The fire destroyed its roof and spire, and the entire structure was close to collapsing. But now, thanks to the hard work of many experts, it looks better than ever.
The cathedral has been restored to its former glory, with a brand-new spire, flying buttresses, and amazing stone carvings. The white stone and golden details of the building shine brightly again. People around the world were shocked and saddened when they saw the fire, but now, the cathedral’s reopening is a symbol of hope and recovery.
The fire was terrifying. Parisians and TV viewers across the globe watched as the spire and roof fell during the fire. The flames came dangerously close to destroying the whole cathedral. French President Emmanuel Macron said that the reopening will bring a wave of hope, just like the shock of the fire did.
Many famous people, including US President-elect Donald Trump, Prince William of Britain, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will attend a special ceremony on Saturday evening to celebrate the reopening.
Thousands of workers, like carpenters, stonemasons, and artists who create stained glass windows, have worked day and night for the past five years to restore the cathedral. They used the same techniques that were used when the cathedral was first built, over 850 years ago. The cathedral is not only a symbol of Paris and France, but it is also a symbol for people around the world.
The first stone of Notre-Dame Cathedral was laid in 1163, and it took over a hundred years to complete. The cathedral became even more famous when the author Victor Hugo wrote his famous book The Hunchback of Notre-Dame in 1831. The story of Quasimodo, the bell ringer, has been turned into movies, musicals, and cartoons.
The restoration of Notre-Dame received huge support from people all over the world, raising more than 840 million euros (around $882 million). This money is still being used to continue the building’s restoration, and it is expected to be one of the most visited places in the world, with 15 million visitors each year.
If you want to visit the cathedral, you can book a free ticket online starting from Saturday. You can also join the line to get in without a reservation. The cathedral also has an app to help guide your visit. Starting in February 2024, religious groups will be able to visit, and tourists with guides can enter from June 2024.
Notre-Dame is back, and now people can experience its beauty again!
