The Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening on Dec. 7, 2024 has elevated the atmosphere in Paris. The famous Notre Dame now continues to inspire global travel and encourage people to explore other cultures after a multi-year hiatus.
A devastating electrical fire on April 15, 2019 severely damaged Notre Dame. The roof took the brunt of the flames, leaving the majority of the structure mostly intact. The fire burned through the night while the world watched and mourned.
French teacher Melissa Lechtenberg’s AP French class watched the fire live during their class period, feeling and understanding the sorrow, only a fragment of what the French felt during this time. “Notre Dame is an integral part of not only religion and culture, but a key historical building showcasing Gothic architecture. Notre Dame Cathedral still stands as a test to French perseverance through wars and periods of uncertainty,” Lechtenberg explained.
Notre Dame is a stunning work of architecture that the world cried for at its destruction. Many people were moved to contribute to its rebuilding.
340,000 donors from 150 countries around the world donated nearly $900 million and resources to France for the reconstruction of Notre Dame. The initial rebuilding of the monument soon became a full restoration that lasted five years. With 1,000 people working on the project daily, the interior of Notre Dame was refurbished to its original condition.
At the reopening, Notre Dame featured not only repaired structural elements but also polished marble. Tourists and locals marveled at this spectacular sight. “The smoke damage and structural repairs led [the French] to clean centuries of candle soot from the stone as well,” Lechtenberg stated. “So, even tourists that have already visited Notre Dame Cathedral will have a new experience seeing it so clean and bright.”
Global support for the monument has continued through the celebration of the long awaited reopening of Notre Dame. Tourism to the cathedral is expected to see an uptick from 12 million annual visitors before the restoration to 15 million afterwards.
Senior Estelle Treiber visited over winter break and partook in French culture. “Seeing the Notre Dame basilica restored was breathtaking! The experience was a reminder that beauty from history should be respected and cared for!” Treiber remarked.
The restoration of this global monument is incredibly significant as it demonstrates the character of countless people around the world. “I feel motivated to travel and experience other cultures as much as I can in my young adulthood because Notre Dame, although now restored, is a reminder that not everything lasts forever,” Treiber reflected.
Architecture helps spread culture across the world and across generations. The Notre Dame Cathedral is a symbol of national pride for the French people, and the collective effort put into restoring the structure shows the inspiring solidarity for their country.
