The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is now “saved” after the disastrous 2019 fire that nearly destroyed it, and the process of rebuilding and restoring the church to its former glory is on schedule for a 2024 reopening.
Officials announced on Saturday that the preliminary “safety phase” of reconstruction that began in the summer of 2019 was completed successfully and on time despite delays from the coronavirus-induced shutdowns. The fire weakened the medieval cathedral’s foundations and destroyed parts of the roof, leading some experts to believe there was only a 50% chance it could be saved.
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The Friends of Notre Dame, a nonprofit organization that fundraises for the care of the cathedral, said the building needed extensive work to make it safe for reconstruction to begin. This included installing tarps beneath the holes in the ceiling to protect from rain, lead decontamination, and fortifying structural elements such as the gables, flying buttresses, and interior pillars. One of the greatest concerns was the scaffolding that was attached to the outside of the building when it burned and became melded to the walls, but workers successfully removed it.
“That means that we’re officially saying that the cathedral is now saved, that it’s solid on its pillars, that its walls are solid,” said Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin, president of the commission overseeing the repairs. “We’ll be able to firmly go ahead with the phase of restoring and rebuilding the parts destroyed by the fire so that it’s ready to reopen for services and public visits in 2024.”
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French President Emmanuel Macron promised that the church would be rebuilt within five years of the fire, which occurred on April 15, 2019. After considering alternative designs, the French government decided it would be restored to its condition before the fire, including an 18th century wooden spire that was completely destroyed.
Millions of people within France and without have donated to restore the 850-year-old church, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of pride for France and Catholics around the world. Before the fire, it welcomed 12 million visitors each year.
