France’s Notre Dame set to open 5 years after devastating fire, Macron inspects renovation today

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit renovation works at Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral on Friday ahead of its reopening on Dec. 7, five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire and caused major damage throughout.

Here is what you need to know:

What is Notre-Dame?

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.

The first stone was laid in 1163, and construction continued for much of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th century.
Victor Hugo used the cathedral as a setting for his 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed by Hollywood actors including Charles Laughton and also in an animated Disney adaptation.

Why and how did it burn?

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.

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What will happen at the opening ceremony?

President Emmanuel Macron will give a speech in front of the cathedral on Saturday, Dec. 7, around 6 pm(1700 GMT) after which Paris’ Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will use his crosier to knock on the cathedral’s heavy doors.

From within the cathedral, a psalm will be sung three times in response to the knocking, after which the doors will open. The archbishop will bless the cathedral’s ancient organ before it starts playing. This will be followed by a service.
The service is invitation-only and the guest list is not yet known. It will be followed by a show broadcast from the cathedral square, for which details are also not yet available.

First mass on Sunday, Dec.8th

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.

When can you visit?

If you’re lucky, you can visit on the evening of Dec. 8 from 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. but there is at first likely to be fierce competition - and long queues - to visit the cathedral.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)