From the square to the spire: eight days before the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris, Emmanuel Macron gave himself a final site visit in ten stages in the restored cathedral on Friday, broadcast live on television.
Following in the footsteps of the President of the Republic, the world discovered the first television images of the new Notre-Dame, like new, more than five years after the fire which devastated it in April 2019.
“You were up to the task, I am infinitely grateful to you (…) It is an immense pride for us to see this”declared the President of the Republic, while visiting the framework, at the foot of the spire, part-time of a “wandering” two hours through the construction site of the century.
Previously, the first stage had taken place outside, on the square and its just finished limestone paving. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the architect who designed the square, Bas Smets, were notably present.
For the second stage, Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte, the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich and the head of restoration, Philippe Jost, entered the cathedral.
The opportunity for a first overview of the striking interior, with the cleaned blond stone becoming resplendent again and a perspective on the golden cross enthroned at the back of the building.

President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron visit Notre-Dame de Paris on November 29, 2024 / Christophe PETIT TESSON / POOL/AFP
Third stage: the transept crossing, to discover the stone vaults restored with the same methods and materials as in the 13th century. Mr. Macron listened to the explanations of Philippe Villeneuve, chief architect of historical monuments, and Henry de Reviers, masonry and stone cutting craftsman.
Then pass in front of the new bronze liturgical furniture – including the altar -, designed by designer Guillaume Bardet, and in front of the statue of the Virgin on the Pillar, miraculously saved from the fire of 2019.
Fire misting

Notre-Dame de Paris on November 29, 2024 / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / POOL/AFP
Then ascend to the heavens, or almost, for the fourth and fifth stages, with the discovery of the framework, first that of the choir then that at the level of the spire.
The forest, that is to say the wooden frames which dated from the Middle Ages, disappeared in the flames and was rebuilt in solid oak – the equivalent of 2,000 trees. All the pieces of the immense puzzle have now been put together, using the same techniques and the same pieces of wood as back then.

Notre-Dame: the restoration of the spire / Sylvie HUSSON, Hervé BOUILLY, Sabrina BLANCHARD, Valentina BRESCHI / AFP/Archives
Detailed discussions during the passage through the framework, the opportunity to discuss the new fire safety system, which benefits from technological innovations. It is therefore equipped with a water misting system which, in the event of a fire, diffuses a mist of fine droplets to smother it.
After the ascent, return to earth for the sixth stage, where visitors descended to the northern slope of the choir to admire the murals. Enough to highlight another aspect of catering, artistic crafts.
The same goes for the seventh stage in the Saint-Marcel chapel. Freed from the dirt that masked them, its newfound colors promise, according to the site managers, a “Sistine Chapel effect” and a “fireworks” visual.
During the eighth and ninth stages, visitors discovered the reliquary with the precious crown of thorns, saved during the fire, then the statues which form the Vow of Louis XIII.
Finally, the tenth and final stage was devoted to the Grand Organ of Notre-Dame. The largest in France, it includes 8,000 pipes, some of which are the size of a ballpoint pen and others measuring more than 10 meters high. But we will have to wait until the reopening on December 7 to hear it resonate.
After the visit, the president participated in the tribute to the 1,200 companions gathered on the square, coming from all trades (scrap workers, carpenters or glass specialists), who were able to enter, all smiles, into the cathedral to admire the result of their years of hard work.