Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens Saturday after five years of meticulous restoration, symbolizing hope and resilience following the devastating 2019 fire.
The iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen its doors this Saturday, marking five-and-a-half years since the catastrophic fire that destroyed its spire and roof, bringing the historic Gothic structure to the brink of collapse. The restoration has revived the 860-year-old masterpiece, with its intricate carvings, soaring spire, and golden decorations restored to their former brilliance.
French President Emmanuel Macron, along with dignitaries including U
.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Britain's Prince William, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, will attend the reopening ceremony. Strong winds have moved the event inside the cathedral, where Parisians and global viewers will celebrate the symbolic revival of the cherished landmark.
Macron, reflecting on the fire, stated:
"The shock of the reopening will – I believe and I want to believe – be as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope."
The monumental restoration effort brought together thousands of skilled craftspeople, from carpenters to stained glass artists, who used traditional methods to restore the cathedral. Over €840 million ($882 million) in donations poured in from around the world, funding the project and leaving surplus resources for future preservation.
Historian Damien Berne described Notre-Dame as a universal symbol, saying:
"It’s a landmark, an emblem, a point of reference that reassures in a globalized world where everything evolves permanently."
Reopening Details
Starting Saturday, visitors can book free tickets online or on-site for same-day or next-day visits. Group tours will resume in 2024, with religious groups allowed from February 1 and guided tourist visits from June 9.
With an expected 15 million visitors annually, Notre-Dame is set to reclaim its place as one of the world’s most visited landmarks, a beacon of resilience and cultural heritage.
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounti...
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a...
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions ...
Seven opposition parties in Georgia have formed a coordinated alliance ahead of upcoming elections, saying it aims...
China’s top leadership has unveiled a new push to turn advanced technologies into large-scale industrial priorities as part of the country&rs...
Tourists from all over the world flock to Paris, France for elaborate Valentine’s Day proposals, with agencies reporting record bookings and luxury packages reaching up to €100,000.
France’s “absolute priority” remains the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Thursday (5 February) during talks with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus, as Paris reassesses its counter-terrorism strategy.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk said the search at his social media platform X offices in Paris on Tuesday by French authorities was a "political attack".
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the U.S. is “gradually turning away” from some of its allies and “breaking free from international rules”.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Türkiye raised its security level for Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on Sunday (2 March). The development follows Iranian restrictions on shipping after U.S. and Israeli strikes and confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.
Hindu devotees in the northern town of Barsana in Uttar Pradesh celebrated ‘Laddoo Holi’ on Tuesday (24 February), a traditional pre-Holi ritual honouring the Hindu deity Krishna.
Robert Carradine, best known for his roles in The Long Riders, Revenge of the Nerds and the television series Lizzie McGuire, has died at the age of 71 following a years-long battle with mental illness.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles in 'Grey’s Anatomy' and 'Euphoria', died on Thursday, at the age of 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family confirmed his death after what they described as a “courageous battle” with ALS.
Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor renowned for his steely intensity and commanding performances in films including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 95.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment