Journalism of Courage
(Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)
2. The cathedral is set to re-open from December 8, with French artist Guillaume Bardet contributing a redesigned altar and baptistery, along with various liturgical objects and furniture, as part of the restoration. (Sarah Meyssonnier, Pool via AP)
Originally constructed over 200 years beginning in the 12th century, the cathedral previously welcomed around 12 million visitors annually. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool via AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, visited the site to applaud workers and thank those who contributed to the restoration through labour and donations. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)
For the restoration work, a carpenter painstakingly created 3,000 wooden dowels over four months using oaks matching the original structural beams. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)
6. Private forest owners donated trees for the reconstruction, while a petition with over 120,000 signatures last year successfully advocated retaining the cathedral’s original windows. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)
Controversy had surrounded President Macron's initial suggestion of incorporating a ‘contemporary gesture’ in the restoration, an idea he later abandoned due to public opposition. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool via AP)
Macron described the restoration effort as delivering a "shock of hope" to the world, commending the dedication of the construction teams. (Stephane de Sakutin/Pool via AP)
Ahead of its reopening, debates have also emerged over whether visitors should be charged a fee to enter the 12th-century Gothic masterpiece. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool via AP)
The restored Notre-Dame will hold its grand inauguration on 7 December, celebrating its historical and cultural significance to France and the world. (Stephane de Sakutin, Pool via AP)
