New Delhi: After more than five years of reconstruction following the fire that devastated Notre-Dame in 2019, the famous cathedral in Paris is once again set to reopen this weekend. Notably, US President-elect Donald Trump will attend the weekend reopening of the restored cathedral. The 850-year-old edifice will welcome invited visitors and worshippers again this Saturday and Sunday and several world leaders are expected to be among the guests.
French President Emmanuel Macron has inspected the cathedral’s restoration and said that the workers has healed a “national wound.” Hundreds of experts and around 250 companies took part in the restoration work which cost nearly 700 million euros. Around 150 countries donated 846 million euros for the restoration work. Notably, Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church won’t be attending the reopening. The reopening of Notre-Dame is touted to be a high-security affair, with some steps used during the Paris Olympics set to be repated and the sealing-off to tourists of the cathedral’s island location in the heart of Paris.
Notre-Dame de Paris: A structure to behold
Notre-Dame de Paris, simply known as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on an island in the River Seine named the Île de la Cité, in Paris. The cathedral is dedicated to Virgin Mary and is hailed as one of French Gothic architecture’s finest examples. It is previous from the previous Romanesque style on several factors including the pioneering use of the flying buttress and rib vault, its colourful and big rose windows, and its sculptural decoration’s naturalism and abundance. Notre-Dame is also known for three pipe organs and its massive church bells.
Notre-Dame throughout the history
In 1163, under Bishop Maurice de Sully, the Notre-Dame’s construction started and by 1260 it was mostly completed. In later centuries, several modifications have been made to the cathedral. During the French Revolution, the Notre-Dame was extensively desecrated and people damaged and destroyed most its religious imagery.
French Emperor Napoleon’s coronation took place in the cathedral and it has also hosted the funerals of many French Presidents. The 1831 novel of Victor Hugo, ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’ garnered interest for the cathedral and as a result, it was restored between 1844 and 1864. Between 1991 and 2000, another restoration project took place. The cathedral was greatly damaged by a fire in April 2019 and it was closed for five years. On December 8, 2024, the public mass celebration will resume. Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the most popular places in Paris. It was visited by about 12 million people every year in the early 21st century, and it was most visited monument in Paris.
After a devastating 2019 fire, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen this weekend. The reopening ceremony will be attended by several world leaders, marking a significant moment for France. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
