In brief
In a historic event on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron provided the world with a televised exploration of the freshly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, set to reopen in just one week after the catastrophic fire of 2019. Accompanied by his wife Brigitte, the mayor, and the archbishop of Paris, Macron marveled at the cathedral's pristine condition, particularly highlighting the meticulous cleaning of over 450,000 square feet of limestone.
“This is a sight the cathedral has never shown before,” remarked Philippe Jost, leading the reconstruction effort. The fire had left deep marks, but five years later, the interiors shine brilliantly, with soaring vaults and thick columns radiating with renewed glory. The carefully orchestrated tour served not just as a significant milestone for the monument but also as a strategic moment for Macron to pivot public attention away from ongoing political issues and fiscal challenges within France. His address to a gathering of around 1,000 dedicated craftsmen and workers, who played integral roles in the cathedral’s revival, underscored the ambitious five-year timeline that has now culminated in this revitalized symbol of French culture.
