By THOMAS ADAMSON
PARIS (AP) — Five years after a devastating fire reduced Notre-Dame Cathedral to a smoldering shell, journalists got their first have a look at the fully restored interior of the Gothic masterpiece during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The transformation is nothing in need of breathtaking: light dances across radiant stone, gilded accents shine anew, and the majesty of the enduring monument is reborn. From December eighth, visitors can once more marvel on the cathedral's mixture of history and craftsmanship.
Here's a reporter's perspective:
Nave: sensible stone
The nave, once darkened by soot and rubble, now radiates a heavenly glow. Visitors can see the true color of the cathedral's partitions: a lightweight Lutetic limestone – named after the Roman word for Paris, Lutecia – that glows in the daylight streaming through restored stained glass windows. The newly discovered blonde tones accentuate the tall Gothic columns and ribbed vaults, making a brilliant and uplifting atmosphere. Restorers say it’s the primary time in centuries that the true stone has been exposed in this manner.
The polished checkerboard marble floor, which shines underfoot, is so smooth it seems like you possibly can glide across it – and communicates with the choir area's gilded gold lattice partition.
Glowing chandeliers hang majestically from each vaulted arch, stretching from west to east, casting a warm, golden light across all the nave.
The meticulous restoration process included cleansing over 42,000 square meters of stone – an area such as about six football fields – using modern latex scrubs to remove centuries-old dirt without causing damage. Restorers discovered masonry marks engraved by medieval builders – intimate traces of the craftsmen who designed Notre Dame within the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
This sensible transformation stands in stark contrast to the rubble of 2019, when the nave was suffering from charred rubble.
Altar: Lead melted into the hand of Christ
The altar within the cathedral's choir bears a poignant symbol of the fireplace's devastation. The Pietà by Nicolas Coustou, a part of the ensemble “Vœu de Louis” The restorers decided to preserve this as a subtle but powerful reminder of the tragedy.
The ornate inlaid floor surrounding the altar, long hidden beneath layers of dirt, was assembled from fragments salvaged after the fireplace.
Nearby, the polished Cross of Glory, which famously glowed – literally – amid the flames, now shines in its full glory. Framed by the radiant blonde masonry of the nave, the cross serves because the centerpiece of the cathedral's rebirth.
Organ: A Complex Revival
The large organ, which is certainly one of the biggest and most traditional in France, has undergone an in depth revival. Spared from the flames but covered in lead dust, the 8,000 pipes, which ranged in size from that of a pencil to over 10 meters (33 feet) tall, were fastidiously disassembled, cleaned and retuned. Over two years, this work was performed with precision within the quiet, cavernous interior of the cathedral, where harmonization was done entirely by ear.
Now the majesty of the organ is unmistakable. Its soaring picket casing, decorated with carvings by earlier craftsmen, shines in the daylight streaming through the restored clerestory windows. Even in silence it inspires awe.
Chapels: murals rediscovered
The 29 chapels surrounding the nave and choir burst with color and detail previously dulled by dirt and neglect. Restorers revealed intricate murals, gilded stars on the ceiling and vivid motifs originally created under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Each chapel tells a novel story through its design and themes.
A masterpiece is the Chapel of Saint Marcel, whose wall painting with the saint's relics has been vividly restored. The brilliant colours enchant visitors and create an effect comparable to the Sistine Chapel in Rome – a visible fireworks display. In other chapels, traces of paint samples from Nineteenth century painters hidden in niches provide insights into their artistic creative process.
Transept crossing: reconstruction under pressure
The transept crossing, where the unique tower collapsed, presented certainly one of the best challenges of the restoration. Above, soaring latest vaults of Lutetic limestone reproduce the medieval originals with remarkable precision.
Beneath the crossing, archaeologists uncovered a treasure trove of history: fragments of Notre Dame's medieval jubé, or choir cabinet, buried within the rubble. These intricately carved stones, a few of which still show faint traces of polychrome painting, offer a rare glimpse into the cathedral's vibrant decorative history from the thirteenth century.
Roof, spire and security measures
The newly restored roof looks skyward, where medieval woodworking techniques have been faithfully recreated. The intricate picket framework often known as “the forest” stays hidden beneath the roofline, but a glance into the rafters reveals the precision of each ancient and modern craftsmanship.
Outside, the tower rises 96 meters and is a faithful replica of Viollet-le-Duc's Nineteenth-century design. It is paneled in oak and lead and topped by a gilded rooster containing relics of St Denis, St Genevieve and a fraction of the Crown of Thorns, alongside a scroll listing contributors to the restoration.
The tower also honors the late General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who led the project until his death in 2023. His name is now engraved on the bottom.
There is more to this restoration than meets the attention. Notre Dame now has unprecedented, state-of-the-art fire protection systems to stop future disasters. Thermal imaging cameras monitor the roof and a high quality mist system designed to extinguish flames at their source is seamlessly integrated into the structure. Fire barriers divide the roof into sections, stopping flames from spreading.
Reinforced water supply lines can deliver 21,188 cubic feet of water per hour, ensuring the cathedral is healthier protected than ever before.
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Originally published:
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