The result of the repair of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris since the devastating fire in April 2019 was presented today to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and visitors will only be able to enter the church from December 7 and 8.
"The fire in Notre Dame was a national wound, and the cure was you, with your will, your work, your commitment... you managed what was considered impossible," Macron told the artisans and experts who explained to him how they worked on it, writes the French AFP news agency.
Today, all 2.000 craftsmen and others were invited to the cathedral, and more than 1.300 craftsmen for wood, metal, stone, architects, sculptors and other experts came. The financiers of the works, private and others, also came, since the "construction site of the century" cost 700 million euros, and was financed exclusively from donations.
The president especially welcomed the cleaning of the interior from the dirt that had accumulated on the walls for decades: "It is much more hospitable with this light stone."
The interior of the church, once dark due to dirt and grime, is now bright, writes a reporter from the American news agency AP.
He points out that visitors can now see the true color of the cathedral's walls, in the pale Lutetian stone, named after the Roman word for Paris - Lutetia, which "glitters under the sun passing through the restored stained glass windows".
The light now highlights the tall Gothic columns and slender arches creating a positive atmosphere. Restorers say that for the first time in many centuries the stone can be seen so well.
A polished marble floor with a black-and-white checkerboard pattern glistens underfoot, "so smooth it looks like you could slide on it," an AP reporter marvels.
"You see the cathedral as you have never seen it before... five years after the destruction," said Filip Žost, who was in charge of the restoration, during the visit.
"I remember as if it was yesterday, only the Pieta rose from the ruins," answered President Macron, who was accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron and the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich.
In a fire whose cause has not yet been determined, the roof and walls of this supreme work of Gothic art from the 12th century, which is one of the most visited monuments in Europe, were destroyed.
Macron has invited many foreign officials to attend the cathedral's grand opening next weekend, hoping to make it a world event. It is not yet known who is coming, but Pope Francis will not because he is going to Corsica.
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