Notre Dame rises again: Paris landmark reopens after 5 years
In early December, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen after five years of reconstruction. During the first week, it will be accessible to the faithful and tourists until late evening. "Our greatest desire is to welcome everyone again," said the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich.
The reopening is planned for 8th December. Until the 14th of that month, the cathedral will remain open until 10 p.m. Archbishop Ulrich expressed hope that the cathedral will once again become a meeting place for "15 million visitors" annually.
According to the schedule, three key events will occur around the end of November and beginning of December.
On 29th November, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will visit the construction site to thank everyone involved in the reconstruction. Meanwhile, on 7th December, a service will be held during which the state will symbolically hand over the rebuilt cathedral to the Church. Representatives of countries that have financially supported the reconstruction will participate in the ceremony, even if they do not all represent Christian cultures.
First Mass
The first Mass in the renovated cathedral will be held on 8th December at 5:30 a.m. It will be celebrated by Archbishop Ulrich in the presence of over 150 bishops from France and other countries. On that day, the cathedral will be open to all, and entry will be possible with free tickets that can be reserved in advance.
Although the cathedral will be open, finishing works are still ongoing. A budget of 140 million euros (approximately 120 million pounds) is reserved for this, though budget cuts may be possible.
The fire that damaged the cathedral broke out in April 2019, and the reconstruction lasted five years. The cathedral will be able to accommodate between 1,900 and 3,000 people at a time.
