The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened to the public on December 8, 2024, more than five years after it was devastated by a fire that started on April 15, 2019. The fire collapsed the spire and roof of the cathedral, leading to a massive restoration effort that involved nearly $900 million in donations from around the world. The restoration included rebuilding the spire and roof with a thousand oak trees, sourced from the Berce forest in France. The Grand Organ, stained-glass windows, wrought iron railings, vaults, and buttress walls were all meticulously restored as part of the project. The restoration effort involved thousands of workers, including stonemasons, carpenters, sculptors, gilders, roofers, and engineers, at an estimated cost of almost $800 million. The project was completed in phases, with the dismantling of damaged scaffolding completed in November 2020, and construction work resuming after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cathedral’s interior and exterior underwent extensive restoration work, with the goal of preserving the historic landmark for future generations. The reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral marked the end of a long and painstaking restoration process that sought to revive the iconic structure to its former glory.
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