By Ingrid Melander, Ardee and Napolitano
PARIS (Reuters) – Paris’ centuries-old Notre-Dame cathedral reopened on Saturday, five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed its spire and roof and brought the entire Gothic masterpiece down minutes after it collapsed.
The 860-year-old medieval building has been meticulously restored, with a new tower and ribbed vault, its flying buttresses and carved stone gargoyles restored to their former glory, the white stone and gold trim shining brighter than ever.
President Emmanuel Macron, who is grappling with a deep political crisis at home, will welcome US President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William and dozens of heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to a lavish opening ceremony starting around 7 p.m. (18:00 GMT).
Many Parisians rushed to the scene, and television viewers around the world watched in horror on the evening of April 15, 2019, as the tower and roof collapsed in a fire that threatened the main bell towers and the entire structure, which narrowly escaped destruction.
“The planet was shaken that day,” Macron said ahead of Saturday’s event. “The shock of the reopening will be – I believe and want to believe – as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope.”
Forecast high winds mean the celebrations will be held entirely inside the cathedral, organizers said Friday. At first, Macron was expected to give the speech outside.
“I’m afraid I’ll fall to the ground when I go in because it’s going to be very emotional,” said choir member Cecilia De Vargas, who is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony.
“Despite the terrible thing that happened, there is a positive side, to see how all the people, all the French, tried to rebuild the cathedral with such speed.”
Pascal Tordeux, a caretaker’s assistant who lives across the river from Notre-Dame, said: “I saw the construction every day from my window, the tower coming down, coming back. I saw it burn, I saw it rise again… .thinking that one day it will be over.
Displaying tattoos on his arm representing Notre-Dame, the Virgin Mary and a stained glass window, he added: “What does Notre-Dame mean to me? This,”
THOUSANDS WORKED ON THE RESTAURANT
Thousands of expert craftsmen – from woodworkers and stonemasons to stained glass artists – have worked around the clock for the past five years, using ancient methods to restore, repair or replace anything that was destroyed or damaged.
“Notre-Dame is more than a Parisian or French monument. It is also a universal monument,” said historian Damien Berne.
“It is a landmark, an emblem, a point of reference that gives security in a globalized world where everything is constantly evolving,” said Berne, a member of the scientific council for the restoration.
The first stone of the cathedral was laid in 1163, and construction continued for most of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Victor Hugo helped make the cathedral a symbol of Paris and France when he used it as the setting for his 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Quasimodo, the main character, is depicted in Hollywood films, animated Disney (NYSE:) adaptation and in musicals.
So much money has poured in for the renovation from around the world — more than 840 million euros ($882 million), according to Macron’s office — that there is still money left over for further investment in the building.
The Catholic Church now expects the cathedral to welcome around 15 million visitors a year.
The cathedral says that from Saturday, people will be able to book a free ticket online, on its website, social media or a special app, to visit on the same day or a day or two after booking. There will also be a queue on site for those who want to enter without a reservation.
On Sunday, it will be open for visitors from 17:30 to 20:00, but there will probably be fierce competition and long queues.
Group visits will be allowed next year – from February 1 for religious groups or from June 9 for guided tourists.
