Against all odds, this is exactly what has happened. This Sunday, after a monumental reconstruction and restoration process, the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral will finally reopen its doors to the public. As many as 40,000 visitors are expected to pass through the Cathedral’s 860-year-old walls daily. What they will witness is a Notre Dame that has never been seen before.
A New Notre-Dame
The Cathedral has not only been rebuilt after the fire but has also undergone a comprehensive restoration, the first of its kind since 1850. Murals in the Cathedral’s chapels now gleam, free of hundreds of years of dirt and grime, as well as the smoke and ash from the 2019 fire. The 14 chandeliers and numerous wall sconces, designed by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, were restored by Mathieu Lustrerie in Vaucluse. Once dulled and damaged, including two fixtures that fell during the fire, these lighting elements now shine as originally intended.
In early November, passersby and local residents finally heard the bells of the north belfry ringing once again during technical tests—a final step in their restoration. The eight bells, removed in July 2023 for cleaning and repair by the Cornille Havard workshops, were carefully reinstalled through the intricate architecture of the belfry. Each bell was outfitted with a new yoke, the wooden structure that supports and moves the bell, along with new clappers to ensure their iconic tones could once again resonate through Paris.
A Modern Restoration with Ancient Techniques
This restoration is as much a return to traditional craftsmanship as it is a showcase of cutting-edge engineering and fire prevention technology. The roof and spire were rebuilt using green wood from centuries-old oak trees, including over 1,000 for the nave and choir alone, and another 800 for the spire. Charpentiers sans Frontières, an international team of artisans, joined forces with French carpenters to shape each beam by hand, including American craftsman Will Gusakov, who relocated to Normandy with his family for six months to contribute to the project. “It was better than a dream,” he told France 24 of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Stained-glass windows, dating to the 19th century, were meticulously restored under the direction of Flavie Serriere Vincent-Petit in Troyes. Even the Cathedral’s organ, untouched by flames but covered in lead dust from the fire, had to be carefully cleaned and repaired.The restoration process led to astonishing discoveries made from the spring of 2022, including the unearthing of the beautifully colorful 13th-century rood screen underneath the Cathedral, which served to separate the choir and sanctuary from crowds until the early 18th century. Segments of the screen, which feature life-size figures carved with immaculate detail, are now on view at the Musee de Cluny in Paris in the exhibition “Making Stones Speak.: Notre-Dame’s Medieval Sculptures”.
In total, over 2,000 artisans and 250 companies specializing in traditional crafts—such as masonry, glass work, carpentry, and blacksmithing—joined forces to bring Notre Dame back to life. While some scaffolding will remain in place through 2025 for additional restoration phases, this grand reopening marks a historic milestone.
Fire-Proofing the Cathedral
Advanced fire prevention systems were integrated into the cathedral’s restoration, informed by years of collaboration between safety engineers, the Paris Fire Brigade, and the police, whose expertise was invaluable to reconcile the wisdom of traditional practices with modern approaches. These innovations include state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression technologies that combine cutting-edge 21st-century solutions with careful respect for Notre Dame’s historic structure.
In December, the Paris Diocese is preparing to welcome pilgrims and visitors alike. With enhanced safety measures and new fire prevention systems, Notre Dame is ready to begin its next chapter. President Emmanuel Macron captured the essence of this achievement in an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes: “The decision to rebuild Notre Dame was about our capacity to save, restore, sometimes reinvent what we are by preserving where we come from. This is a message of achievement.”
Thank You for Your Support
The unprecedented restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral was made possible by nearly one billion dollars in charitable donations from around the globe. As we join the world in celebrating this historic reopening, we extend our deepest gratitude to our generous donors who joined this campaign through Friends of Fondation de France.
As one of the few organizations entrusted with raising funds in the United States, we have been honored and moved by the outpouring of support over the past five years. Your gifts have not only helped resurrect Notre Dame, but also serve as a testament to the enduring bond between France and the United States. Together, we have proven that cross-border philanthropy has the power to preserve history, inspire unity, and change the world.
Thank you for helping to make the impossible possible.
