Notre Dame Cathedral reopens 5 years after devastating fire; here's all you need to know

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The new-look, renovated Paris’ Notre Dame will reopen today, on December 7, five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed the roof and spire of “Our Lady”, sending shock waves across the world. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the renovation works at the Paris cathedral on November 29.

Macron, accompanied by his wife, Brigitte, and Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, will kick off a series of ceremonies that will culminate in an official "entry" into the cathedral on December 7 and the mass the following day.

Under the luminous stained glass, many world leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers will gather in the evening to mark the occasion — a rare moment of unity against the backdrop of global divisions and conflicts.

America's first lady Jill Biden, Britain's Prince William and President-elect Donald Trump, along with nearly 50 heads of state and government and personalities — 1,500 guests in all — will attend the reopening celebration under Notre Dame’s soaring Gothic arches, led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich.

In the evening, a star-studded concert will take center stage inside the cathedral and pay tribute to its resurrection and to those who labored to restore it, offering a universal message of harmony. Pianist Lang Lang, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and soprano Pretty Yende are among the world-famous artists slated to perform.

What happened five years ago?

A medieval Gothic masterpiece, the Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the most beloved and visited monuments in France.

On April 15, 2019, the world viewed with horror as the cathedral's roof burst into flames and the fire engulfed the spire. Soon after, the roof collapsed but the bell towers and facade held.

Fire engulfs Notre-Dame Cathedral on April 5, 2019. (Image: Reuters)

The cause of the fire remans unclear to this day, though authorities suspect an electrical fault or a burning cigarette. Some 600 firefighters battled the flames for 15 hours.

The opening ceremony and Sunday mass 

Macron, who was closely involved with the renovation project and visited the cathedral several times, will give a speech inside Notre Dame. Initially this was planned outside, in front of the cathedral, but due to strong winds forecast for Saturday evening in Paris, the entire opening ceremony will be held inside.

From within the cathedral, a psalm will be sung three times in response to the knocking after which the doors will open. The archbishop will bless the cathedral's ancient organ before it starts playing.

On Sunday, December 8, the archbishop will celebrate a mass, the first of eight days of masses devoted to the reopening and focused on thanking, among others, donors who paid for the renovations and firefighters who helped save it. Some of the masses will be open to the public.

Who paid for the cathedral's renovation?

Money poured in from all over the world, including from French billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and the Arnault family, which controls the luxury conglomerate LVMH. According to Macron's office, more than 840 million euros were donated more then enough for renovation. The be left over funds will be used for further investment, the office said.

When can people visit?

Battling long queues, if you're lucky, you can visit on December 8 evening from 5.30 pm to 8pm.

A Reuters report said visitors will be able to book tickets online, on its website, social media or a dedicated app, to get into the building on the same day or one or two days after booking from early December.

There will also be a queue on the spot for those who want to enter without a booking.

Religious groups will only get access from February 1 and tourists with guides can visit from June 9.

There is no fee to visit the cathedral.

With inputs from agencies