Notre Dame set to reopen in Paris five years after fire
Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed to locals and visitors alike since the devastating fire more than five years ago. Within days of the disaster, almost $1 billion was received in pledged donations. Meanwhile, according to restoration chief Philippe Jost, around $148 million still remains in the coffers, as the cathedral prepares to reopen next month.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Jost praised the generosity following the fire and explained that the management of the restoration funds had been “entrusted to someone very attentive and professional.”
Jost said the funds are to be used “in agreement with the patrons and donors to carry out needed work campaigns,” as Notre Dame will face continued demands for preservation and structural integrity.
The restoration chief further confirmed that the billionaire donors, who pledged vast sums after the fire had “fully fulfilled their financial commitments” and “honored their pledges made on the night of the fire or in the hours that followed.”
According to officials in Paris, the cathedral will hold a grand reopening ceremony on December 7 after the completion of its restoration.
After the devastating cathedral blaze
However, AP reveals that for months, the billionaire donors held back on transferring funds while awaiting specific restoration plans. Meanwhile, they awaited negotiations outlining how their contributions would be used.
Meanwhile, frustration increased after much of the initial cleanup work – including structural fortifications and toxic lead dust removal – was covered by smaller donations, mainly collected by the cathedral’s charitable foundations in the US and France .
Moreover, the larger pledges led to international debate as to whether donors were motivated by a desire for their own legacy, more than by preserving France’s cultural heritage.
As the December 8 reopening nears, last week saw a moving moment for Paris. On November 7, the northern belfry – partly destroyed in the fire – pealed its eight newly restored bells for the first time since the fire.