Summary
The newly restored 850-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral will reopen on December 7, five years after the devastating 2019 fire.
The €700m renovation has revitalized the Gothic masterpiece, preserving its historical integrity while incorporating modern safety upgrades like sprinkler systems.
The project involved 2,000 skilled craftsmen, boosting traditional trades such as stone-carving and woodwork.
Key features, including stained-glass windows and artwork, were saved, while the spire and roof timbers were reconstructed.
Understandable to disagree with whether or not restoration preserves the history and soul of an architectural wonder but I have to ask—what’s the alternative? Leave it as ruins? Build something truly modern and uninspired?