Notre Dame Cathedral to reopen in December after restoration
In early December, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen after five years of reconstruction. During the first week after reopening, it will be accessible to the faithful and tourists until late evening. "Our greatest desire is to welcome everyone again," said the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich.
8:18 PM EST, November 13, 2024
The reopening is planned for December 8. Until the 14th of that month, the cathedral will be open until 10 PM. Archbishop Ulrich expressed hope that the cathedral will once again become a meeting place for "15 million visitors" annually.
According to the schedule, three key events will take place at the turn of November and December.
On November 29, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will visit the construction site to thank everyone involved in the reconstruction. Meanwhile, on December 7, a service will be held during which the state will symbolically hand over the rebuilt cathedral to the Church. Representatives of countries that have financially supported the reconstruction will participate in the ceremony, even though not all represent Christian culture.
First Mass
The first Mass in the renovated cathedral will be held on December 8 at 5:30 AM. It will be celebrated by Archbishop Ulrich in the presence of over 150 bishops from France and other countries. On that day, the cathedral will be open to everyone, and free tickets that can be reserved in advance will allow entry.
Although the cathedral will be open, finishing works are still ongoing. A budget of 140 million euros (approximately 150 million USD) is reserved for this, though budget cuts are possible.
The fire that damaged the cathedral broke out in April 2019, and the reconstruction lasted five years. The cathedral will be able to accommodate 1,900 to 3,000 people at a time.