Notre-Dame Cathedral Set to Reopen in 2024

Four years have passed since a devastating fire engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. Reconstruction is progressing well, with French officials indicating that the historic 12th-century site will welcome visitors and worshippers again next year, according to the Associated Press.

What is the timeline for rebuilding Notre-Dame?

Although the Gothic church remains closed during ongoing reconstruction, French officials confirmed that Notre-Dame is expected to reopen to the public in December 2024.

“My responsibility is to ensure this cathedral is ready for its 2024 reopening, and we will achieve that,” stated General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the army general overseeing the restoration, during an interview with the Associated Press in March 2023. “We are dedicated to this goal and making significant progress.”

In the aftermath of the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a five-year timeline for restoration, aiming for completion ahead of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. However, in 2019, experts in medieval restoration estimated that rebuilding the roof, spire, and collapsed stone vaulting could take between 15 to 20 years. Fortunately, the current timeline aligns more closely with Macron's ambitious vision.

While the cathedral is set to reopen for both religious services and tourism in December 2024, the complete restoration will not be finalized until 2025, as confirmed by Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak in an interview with the AP.

What is the status of the Notre-Dame restoration?

Although the stained-glass rose windows, the rectangular towers, and invaluable Christian relics emerged from the fire unscathed, significant reconstruction work remains before the cathedral can be reopened.

By November 2020, workers had successfully dismantled all scaffolding that had been erected for a previous renovation project when the fire struck in 2019. In September 2021, the government agency in charge of Notre-Dame’s reconstruction announced that the temporary structures built to stabilize the cathedral’s iconic towers, vaults, and walls were completed. Serious reconstruction efforts commenced in December 2021, focusing on the restoration of the organ and other areas of the cathedral.

In February 2023, scaffolding was erected to commence the reinstallation of the replica of architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century spire, which fell during the fire. Original materials, including oak harvested from French forests, will be used. The spire will also be constructed with lead, raising health and environmental concerns since the 2019 fire released potentially harmful lead particles into the surrounding area, leading to an extensive cleanup. Completion of the spire is expected by the end of 2023, according to Agence France-Presse.

An inside look at the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral

To understand the scope of the work required for Notre-Dame, explore these images of the cathedral before and right after the 2019 fire, along with some reconstruction progress updates from recent years.

Before the fire (September 2018)

After the fire (April 2019)

Reconstruction updates (November 2021)

Reconstruction updates (March 2023)

Before the fire (October 2017)

After the fire (April 2019)

Reconstruction updates (June 2021)

Controversial plans for Notre-Dame’s restoration

At the close of 2021, France’s National Heritage and Architecture Commission approved renovation plans for Notre-Dame’s interior, as reported by Agence France-Presse. Proposed changes include modern lighting features like projecting Bible verses onto the walls and potentially adding street art installations to the 19th-century confessionals from artists such as Ernest Pignon-Ernest and modern creators like Louise Bourgeois.

Msgr. Patrick Chauvet, Notre-Dame’s rector, stated to the New York Times that these changes would facilitate an “easier and more enjoyable visit” to the cathedral, while critics argue that such alterations would diminish the significance of the religious site.

Approximately 100 public figures signed an opinion piece titled “Notre-Dame in Paris: What the Fire Spared, the Diocese Wants to Destroy” in the conservative French newspaper Le Figaro in December 2021. Early backlash in the British press likened the renovation plans to transforming Notre-Dame into a “woke Disneyland” upon their announcement in November 2021.

This is not the first instance of critics opposing the modernization of the 850-year-old cathedral. Although Macron initially advocated for a contemporary glass spire and a rooftop garden, he later agreed to historically accurate restoration plans in July 2020, according to a statement from the state agency overseeing the project, as reported by the Associated Press.

As of 2023, around 1,000 individuals are involved in Notre-Dame’s restoration efforts in Paris and across France. To ensure rebuilding with materials and techniques akin to those used in the 12th century, skilled artisans—including quarrymen, carpenters, mortar makers, and master stonecutters—have been recruited.

A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the restoration process

Although the cathedral remains closed to visitors in 2023, two new exhibits on Notre-Dame provide insight into this extensive construction endeavor.

Housed in a new cultural space beneath the cathedral, previously a parking garage, Notre-Dame de Paris: In the Heart of the Restoration will be showcased until December 2024. This exhibit offers an overview of the restoration project and the various trades involved, alongside damaged artifacts rescued from the fire.

At the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine in Trocadéro, Notre-Dame de Paris: From Builders to Restorers (running until April 29, 2024) features the statues of the apostles and evangelists that were removed from the cathedral’s spire for restoration just four days before the fire.

Read More: Explore These Exhibits While Notre-Dame Is Closed

What is the cost of restoring Notre-Dame?

The consolidation phase—spanning from 2019 to 2021—incurred costs of 165 million euros (approximately US$197 million). This funding was directed towards stabilizing the cathedral’s vaults and dismantling the scaffolding that was present during the fire.

French officials have yet to finalize the overall budget for Notre-Dame’s renovation, but a major European insurer is drawing comparisons between this project and the $8 billion renovations currently underway for the British Parliament buildings in London.

“The costs for scaffolding will be significant, and ensuring the building’s stability will be equally costly. The expenses for renovating the [British] Parliament are in a similar range,” Robert Read, head of art and private clients at Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox, told Reuters shortly after the fire.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, nearly $1 billion in donations surged in from individuals and corporations, including Apple and Disney. Wealthy French families linked to LVMH and Kering pledged €200 million (US$226 million) and €100 million (US$113 million), respectively. LVMH owns prestigious French fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, while Kering encompasses luxury brands such as Saint Laurent and Gucci.

According to France’s secular laws, the government holds ownership of Notre-Dame. However, the Ministry of Culture has only allocated €2 million (US$2.26 million) annually for repairs in previous years.

Reporting for this article was contributed by Mary Winston Nicklin and the Associated Press. It first appeared online in April 2019 and was most recently updated on May 3, 2023, to reflect current information.