THE Notre Dame Cathedralreopens its doors today, five and a half years after it was heavily damaged by a devastating fire that destroyed its spire and roof and nearly caused the complete collapse of this masterpiece of Gothic art.

The 860-year-old medieval cathedral, a symbol of both France and Paris, has been painstakingly restored, with a new spire and roof, it has returned to its former glory and its white and gold decorations sparkle today more than ever. On the evening of April 15, 2019, Parisians who rushed to the scene and television viewers around the world watched in horror as the spire and roof of the cathedral collapsed from the fire that threatened the main bell towers and the entire building, which narrowly avoided being completely destroyed. destruction. “The planet was shaken that day,” the French president said Emmanuel Macron before today’s ceremony for its reopening. “The shock of reopening I believe and I want to believe that it will be as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope.”

THE Macronweakened by the deep political crisis the country is going through, will have a chance to forget these problems when it welcomes the US president-elect Donald Trumpthe prince of Britain William and dozens of heads of state and government, including the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski, the president of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulouat the ceremony for the re-opening of the temple which is to begin around 7 p.m. (local time, 20:00 Greek time).

Late yesterday, Friday evening, Macron’s office and the Archdiocese of Paris announced that, due to strong winds, the ceremonies would all take place inside the church. Macron had originally planned to give a speech outside it.

“I’m afraid I’m going to collapse when I go in because it’s going to be so emotional,” she says Cecilia De Vargasa member of the choir who is going to take part in the ceremony for the re-opening of the temple.

“Despite the horror that happened, there is a positive side, when you see how all the people, all the French people rebuilt the cathedral with such speed.”

“Many people said to me, ‘give us back the cathedral as it was.’ But he will be much more beautiful, the Catholic archbishop of Paris promised, speaking to AFP Laurent Ulrich.

The restored temple opens for visitors

Thousands of expert craftsmen, from carpenters and stonemasons to stained glass artists, have been working non-stop for the past five years, using ancient methods to restore, repair or replace what was destroyed or damaged.

“Notre-Dame is more than a Parisian or French monument. It is also a world monument,” says the historian Damian Byrne.

“It’s a landmark, an emblem, a reassuring point of reference in a globalized world where everything is constantly evolving,” says Byrne, a member of Notre Dame’s restoration science board.

The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid in 1163 and its construction continued in the following century, while it was restored and added to in the 17th and 18th centuries.

THE Victor Hugo helped make the cathedral a symbol of both Paris and France when he used it in 1831 as the setting for his novel Notre Dame. Quasimodo, the central character of the novel, has been made into Hollywood films, a Disney animated film, and a musical.

So much money has been raised for its restoration from around the world – more than 840 million euros, according to Macron’s office – that there are funds left over to further invest in the building.

The Catholic Church now expects the cathedral to welcome around 15 million visitors a year.

If anyone is lucky, they will be able to visit him tomorrow night from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., but most likely there will be huge lines of visitors.

The cathedral announced that starting today, visitors will be able to book a free ticket online, on its website, social media or a dedicated app, to enter the building on the same day or one or two days after they book the ticket. There will also be a queue on site for those wishing to enter without a reservation. Groups will be accepted from next year – from February 1 for pilgrims from religious organizations and from June 9 for tourists with guides.