According to experts, the reconstruction of one of the main monuments of Paris, which began last year, will not be completed until 2025. But General of the Army Jean-Louis Georgelin, who is in charge of the renovations, is determined. In his statement to the media, he clearly reported: his goal — reopen to the public in December 2024.
A restoration team is currently restoring the cathedral's iconic spire, which collapsed in a fire in 2019. It is interesting that initially there was no spire on the roof; it was invented and installed by the architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc during the restoration of the cathedral in the 19th century. Visitors to the iconic site will be able to admire the reconstructed 96-meter spire this year.
Work is progressing at a very decent pace, and it is already noticeable that the re-opening of Notre Dame is just around the corner, but he was not destined to be in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris — goal set by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2021.
Notre Dame Cathedral — one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the Internet. In April 2019, it was destroyed by fire. Since then, only some restored parts of the famous cathedral have been shown to the public.
In 2020, the city reopened the crypt, freeing it from toxic lead dust, and then the public square in front of the main entrance to the cathedral.
Visitors can now view the new exhibition “Notre Dame Cathedral: In the Heart of the Construction Site”, located in the underground room in front of the cathedral.
The reconstruction of the Gothic structure will largely return it to its former appearance, but the territory will undergo more radical changes. Last year, Belgian landscape designer Bas Smets won a tender to renovate Notre Dame's surroundings, including an enlarged square behind the cathedral, a new park, an underpass, a welcome lobby and an archeology museum.