A celebration in Paris. The huge word “Thank You” glows on the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. It’s a message to everyone who helped revive the iconic landmark after the fire. And now, five years later, Notre Dame is open again.
While world leaders, including Donald Trump, gathered inside, hundreds of Parisians came to watch the reopening from the outside.
[Parisian woman]:
“I wanted to hear the bells. The life of Notre Dame is contained in the sounds it makes, and for five years it has been silent.
The fire occurred on April 15, 2019. The 860-year-old cathedral could have collapsed, but it was prevented.
Thousands of experts – from carpenters and masons to stained glass artists – have worked around the clock for the past five years. Centuries-old techniques have been used to rebuild, repair or replace everything that has been destroyed or damaged.
A new spire and ribbed vault were erected on Notre Dame, and the white stone and gold decorations shone brightly once again.
According to the French president’s office, more than 880 million dollars were allocated for the reconstruction of the cathedral worldwide. Some of the funds are still left, and they are planned to be used for further investments in the building.
The first stone of the cathedral was laid in 1163, and construction continued for most of the next century. And in the XVII and XVIII centuries, major restorations and additions were carried out.
The cathedral is world-famous thanks to Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, which he wrote in 1831. The action unfolds also within its walls.
