French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral on Friday (November 29) for his last visit to the fire-ravaged landmark that has undergone more than five years of reconstruction work before it reopens to the public next week, Reuters reports.
On the evening of April 15, 2019, the cathedral's roof burst into flames. Soon, the fire had engulfed the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Around the world, TV viewers watched with horror as the medieval building burned.
The roof collapsed but the bell towers and facade held.
It remains unclear what exactly caused the fire. French authorities have said an electrical fault or a burning cigarette may have been responsible.
Macron will give a speech in front of the cathedral as part of reopening festivities on Dec. 7, around 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) after which Paris' Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will use his crosier to knock on the cathedral's heavy doors.
The archbishop will celebrate a Mass, starting at 10.30 a.m. (0930 GMT), the first of eight days of Masses devoted to the reopening and focused on thanking, among others, donors who paid for the renovations and firefighters who helped save it. Some of the Masses, including on the evening of Dec. 8, at 6.30 p.m. (1730 GMT), will be open to the public.
A medieval Gothic masterpiece, Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the French capital's most beloved and visited monuments. Its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stunning stained-glass windows and carved stone gargoyles have long been celebrated in books and movies.
