(LaPresse) After almost five years of reconstruction, the scaffolding covering the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been removed. The place of worship, devastated by a fire in April 2019, is nearing its rebirth.
Huge cranes lifted blocks of scaffolding on Monday 12 February to reveal the newly installed spire, with the new golden rooster and cross adorning it. While much of the cathedral remains surrounded by scaffolding, the removal of that around the top is giving the public and worshipers a glimpse of what Notre Dame will soon look like once the restoration work is finished.
Recent months have seen considerable progress in the reconstruction of the cathedral, which is on track to reopen on December 8, a date eagerly awaited by Paris residents and the millions of tourists who normally visit the cathedral each year. Officials following the restoration revealed that a fire-fighting sprinkler system was set up under the roof of the cathedral. The cross was designed to be identical to the one lost in the fire. Although the cathedral will not be open to the public during the Paris Olympics, when visitors flock to the French capital by the millions for the Summer Games that open on July 26, the rebuilt spire and roof are expected to be complete, giving the cathedral a finished from the outside. The remaining process of removing all the scaffolding could take weeks, if not months.
February 13, 2024
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