Notre Dame Cathedral being renovated after 2019 fire: How it looks now
Renovation of Notre Dame Cathedral (Getty Images)
Famous Paris landmark, Notre Dame Cathedral, burned down more than four years ago, while its 19th-century spire crushed into the church, inflicting devastating damage and leading to the cathedral's indefinite closure. Now the restoration work is ongoing and set to end in December 2024, according to ABC News.
ABC News correspondent James Longman acknowledged the significant progress, noting the fully repaired roof, the restored rose stained-glass window, and the renovated artwork that defines the cathedral.
"Last time I came to Notre Dame, they were securing the building with the risk of falling down. Now it's the restoration phase, and they're taking us up to the spire," Longman notes.
He admired at the renovated stonework and new wooden beams of the spire, replacements for the ones consumed by the fire.
"When the spire initially crumbled down into the church on fire. They sent shockwaves all over the world," said Longman, noting it was a trauma for France, but "it's back now, standing tall over the city."
To meet the upcoming year's renovation deadline, a team of 2,000 specialists, including joiners, carpenters, stone masons, artists, and metalworkers, worked tirelessly around the clock.
Extensive renovations have also transformed the cathedral's interior. The efforts resulted in repaired rose-stained glass windows and meticulously renovated artwork. The once-massive hole in the roof has nearly disappeared, and repairs to the roof are in progress.
Phillip Jost, the head of restoration for Notre Dame, expressed joy and pride in the recovery process.
The Cathedral was burnt down
On 15 April 2019, while Notre Dame was undergoing renovation, its roof caught fire and burned for 15 hours. The Cathedral sustained serious damage. Following the fire, restoration proposals suggested modernizing the cathedral, but the French National Assembly rejected them, requiring the preservation of the cathedral's "historic, artistic and architectural interest".
It is expected to be re-opened on 8 December 2024.
