More than five years after Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire, it has risen from the ashes and become a spectacular sight. France’s President Emmanuel Macron toured the rebuilt cathedral, which boasts impressive height, colorful stained glass, and restored sculptures. He ended his tour with a speech, thanking those who restored the Parisian building, saying: “You did your alchemy here on this site to turn charred coals into art.”
A fire erupted in the upper part of the cathedral in April 2019, causing extensive damage to the wooden roof, upper walls, and wooden spires. Many of the art and religious artifacts were moved to safety, though some suffered smoke damage. Chief Paris prosecutor at the time of the initial investigation, Remy Heitz, said at the time he believed an accidental cause such as an electrical fault or smoldering cigarette butt was most likely. President Macron vowed to have the cathedral open again within five years of reconstruction efforts, which began in 2022.
The cathedral will officially open its doors to the public on December 7th.
Source: BBC