Notre Dame Cathedral’s Iconic Towers Reopen to Public, Marking Major Reconstruction Milestone

Paris, France – Six years after a devastating fire, the iconic towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have officially reopened to public visits, marking one of the final significant steps in the immense reconstruction effort. French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the restored towers on Friday, a day before the public was welcomed to ascend the 424 stairs for unparalleled views of the French capital.

This latest milestone follows the cathedral’s main reopening in December 2024, which has since seen nearly 30,000 visitors daily. President Macron, who has championed the reconstruction since the April 15, 2019, blaze, personally led the first tour of the newly restored towers, allowing close-up views of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles.

Visitors can now enjoy an approximately 45-minute guided tour, starting with an ascent to the belfry in the south tower. Philippe Jost, Macron’s pointman for the reconstruction, noted that while the route existed before the fire, it has been significantly improved with new viewpoints and visitor spaces. Access to the towers requires a 16-euro (approximately $19) ticket, which must be purchased online, with only 19 people allowed at a time. Tickets for the initial opening weekend sold out in just 24 minutes.

The total cost of the restoration project neared $1 billion. The extensive work involved stabilizing the 12th-century monument, encasing it in scaffolding, and then meticulously rebuilding it using both traditional craftsmanship and 21st-century tools like drones and computer animation. Enhanced safety measures, including metal trusses dividing the massive roof, have also been installed to prevent future fires.

While the tower reopening signifies a major achievement, reconstruction efforts are ongoing, with the apse at the eastern end of the cathedral next in line for renovation. Jost affirmed the ambition to complete a full restoration, addressing all necessary repairs to return the cathedral to its full splendor.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.