THOUSANDS WORKED ON RESTORATION
Thousands of expert craftspeople – from wood carpenters and stonemasons to stained glass window artists – worked around the clock for the last five years, using age-old methods to restore, repair or replace everything that was destroyed or damaged.
“Notre-Dame is more than a Parisian or French monument. It’s also a universal monument,” said historian Damien Berne.
“It’s a landmark, an emblem, a point of reference that reassures in a globalised world where everything evolves permanently,” said Berne, a member of the scientific council for the restoration.
The cathedral’s 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 centuries.
Victor Hugo helped make the cathedral a symbol of both Paris and France when he used it as a setting for his 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed in Hollywood movies, an animated Disney adaptation and in musicals.
So much money poured in for the renovation from all over the world – more than €840 million (US$882 million), according to Macron’s office – that there are still funds left over for further investment in the building.
The Catholic Church now expects the cathedral to welcome some 15 million visitors annually.
The cathedral says that from Saturday, people will be able to book a free ticket online, on its website, social media or a dedicated app, to visit on the same day or one or two days after booking. There will also be a queue on the spot for those who want to enter without a booking.
It will be open for visits on Sunday from 5.30pm to 8pm, but there is likely to be fierce competition and long lines.
Group visits will be allowed next year – from Feb 1 for religious groups or from Jun 9 for tourists with guides.Â
Source: CNA
