PARIS — For the first time since the devastating 2019 fire, the bells of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris rang out together on Friday, November 8, signaling a significant milestone in the landmark’s restoration process.
The sound of the eight newly restored bells echoed across the city, filling the northern belfry with their harmonious chimes.
This marked the end of a long wait and the beginning of the final phase of efforts to restore the cathedral to its former glory ahead of its highly anticipated reopening next month.
At 10:30 am, the bells rang one by one, culminating in a powerful, unified chime. The moment was described by Philippe Jost, head of the public restoration body overseeing the cathedral’s revival, as “a beautiful, important and symbolic step.”
The restoration process, which has spanned over five years, has been a monumental task involving hundreds of specialists and an estimated cost of several hundred million euros.
Notre-Dame was severely damaged on the evening of April 15, 2019, when a devastating fire consumed much of the structure, collapsing the spire and destroying parts of the roof. The fire, which shocked the world, prompted an outpouring of global support.
President Emmanuel Macron set an ambitious goal to restore the cathedral within five years and to make it “even more beautiful” than before.
In the aftermath of the fire, over 250 companies and experts were mobilized, working under challenging conditions to rebuild the cathedral.
The bells, some of which date back centuries, were heavily damaged by the fire. The restoration process for the bells required not only the rebuilding of the northern belfry, which had been compromised in the blaze, but also the careful removal, cleaning, and reinstallation of the bells.
The most significant bell, “Gabriel,” weighs over four tonnes, while the smallest, “Jean-Marie,” weighs 800 kilograms. These bells were cleaned of dust and lead and then carefully restored to their place in the belfry.
Alexandre Gougeon, who is responsible for the reinstallation of the bells, said the first test of their chimes was a success, although he noted that “it’s not perfect yet, but we will make it perfect.”
The ringing of the bells is seen as an important step in the cathedral’s restoration, which also includes rebuilding the iconic spire, preserving the artwork, and restoring the roof.
The bells will play a symbolic role in the cathedral’s reopening, which is planned for December 7 and 8, 2024.
A weekend of ceremonies will take place to mark the occasion, and it is expected that the bells will once again become an integral part of daily life in Paris, filling the air with their historic sound.
For Parisians and visitors alike, the chimes of Notre-Dame serve as a reminder of the cathedral’s resilience and the determination of those who worked tirelessly to restore it to its former splendor.
With the reopening of Notre-Dame just around the corner, the cathedral’s bells ringing once again offers a sense of hope, renewal, and the enduring spirit of Paris.
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