PARIS — The world is popping its consideration to Paris as its cherished Notre Dame Cathedral returns to its former glory 5 years after a devastating fireplace.
The Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, a nonprofit based in 2017, has led the worldwide fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore the cathedral.
Michel Picaud, president of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, instructed Fox News Digital in an unique interview that the cathedral was already in a dire state prior to the hearth.
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“The fire was a terrible event for us because suddenly we had not only to restore part of the cathedral but to rebuild it, which means the extent of what we had to do was much bigger. We were very hopeful that we would succeed in rebuilding this considerably,” stated Picaud.
Michel Picaud, president of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, instructed Fox News Digital that instruments from the Middle Ages have been used to restore the cathedral. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
On April 15, 2019, the hearth precipitated the collapse of the cathedral’s roof and a part of its exterior whereas destroying the inside.
“I think in the past five years of the restoration, so what was very important was effectively to rebuild the spire of the cathedral, the roof and the spire,” stated Picaud.
The tower reaches 226 ft tall with a spire reaching 315 ft excessive, in accordance to the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.
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Picaud stated the identical instruments used to construct the construction in the Middle Ages have been used in the restoration with the addition of contemporary changes akin to sprinkler techniques and safety measures to keep away from one other accident.
The Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris raised practically $60 million for the cathedral with assist from greater than 50,000 American donors. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
The Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris raised practically $60 million for one of many world’s most revered sacred areas.
“We have about 50,000 donors in the U.S., which makes the U.S. and the American people, I would say, the best friends of Notre Dame with the French people, evidently,” stated Picaud.
The cathedral was visited by greater than 12 million folks yearly earlier than the hearth, in accordance to the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris’ web site.
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The Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen its doorways to believers and vacationers the primary week of December with an inaugural Mass.
The cathedral reaches 226 ft with a spire reaching 315 ft excessive, in accordance to the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
“We selected the date of Dec. 8 because it is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary,” Picaud stated.
“As a cathedral is dedicated to Notre-Dame, so to the Virgin Mary was very important. And for the whole world, I think it’s a very important milestone to see this cathedral again, open to visitors, as it will be from next month,” he added.
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A 6-foot medieval statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, often called the “Virgin of Paris,” survived the hearth and returned to the cathedral on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
On Friday, the “Virgin of Paris” statue returned to Notre Dame Cathedral after surviving the hearth in 2019. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The cathedral dates again to the 12th century with the size of the construction stretching 420 ft and 157 ft broad.
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While the roof, spire and inside have been restored, there’s nonetheless work to be finished, Picaud stated.
Notre Dame Cathedral opens to the general public on Dec. 8. (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)
“We will enter a new campaign for the full restoration of the cathedral, because the lower part of the exterior of the cathedral will still need to be restored. We will continue our funding campaign in the next four years for this.”
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An estimated 15 million annual guests are anticipated to guide time-allocated slots upon the reopening, in accordance to the cathedral’s web site.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.