Back in 2019, a devastating fire destroyed much of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, leaving locals and tourists alike dismayed. However, five years later the cathedral is set to reopen after one billion euros’ worth of restoration work. Moreover, the around $150 million surplus will be used for future preservation of the iconic, historic building.
Notre Dame set to reopen in Paris five years after fire
Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed to locals and visitors alike since the devastating fire more than five years ago. Within days of the disaster, almost $1 billion was received in pledged donations. Meanwhile, according to restoration chief Philippe Jost, around $148 million still remains in the coffers, as the cathedral prepares to reopen next month.
That surplus, received from billionaire benefactors and many small donors, will be used to support vital future preservation work on the 861-year-old Gothic cathedral .
Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Jost praised the generosity following the fire and explained that the management of the restoration funds had been “entrusted to someone very attentive and professional.”
Jost said the funds are to be used “in agreement with the patrons and donors to carry out needed work campaigns,” as Notre Dame will face continued demands for preservation and structural integrity.
The restoration chief further confirmed that the billionaire donors, who pledged vast sums after the fire had “fully fulfilled their financial commitments” and “honored their pledges made on the night of the fire or in the hours that followed.”
According to officials in Paris, the cathedral will hold a grand reopening ceremony on December 7 after the completion of its restoration.
After the devastating cathedral blaze
After the fire broke out on April 15, 2019, some $1 billion was pledged by some of the wealthiest people in France in the following days. Among them was Bernard Arnault, CEO of luxury conglomerate LVMH, who committed 200 million. This was matched by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation of the L’Oreal family. Meanwhile, Total’s CEO Patrick Pouyanne and François-Henri Pinault, founder of Kering, each pledged 100 million.
However, AP reveals that for months, the billionaire donors held back on transferring funds while awaiting specific restoration plans. Meanwhile, they awaited negotiations outlining how their contributions would be used.
Meanwhile, frustration increased after much of the initial cleanup work – including structural fortifications and toxic lead dust removal – was covered by smaller donations, mainly collected by the cathedral’s charitable foundations in the US and France .
Moreover, the larger pledges led to international debate as to whether donors were motivated by a desire for their own legacy, more than by preserving France’s cultural heritage.
Il y a cinq ans, une promesse : rebâtir la cathédrale Notre-Dame tous ensemble.
Aujourd’hui, ses cloches retentissent enfin grâce au travail extraordinaire de tant d’entre vous.
Dans un mois, nous rouvrirons ses portes. pic.twitter.com/5Vl7pIQ5V8
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 8, 2024
As the December 8 reopening nears, last week saw a moving moment for Paris. On November 7, the northern belfry – partly destroyed in the fire – pealed its eight newly restored bells for the first time since the fire.
