LABOR OF LOVE

With heroic help from around the world and an army of outstanding artisans, engineers, and architects, Notre-Dame de Paris prepares to reopen its doors

DANA THOMAS

On April 15, 2019, the unthinkable happened: Notre-Dame de Paris caught on fire. More than 400 firefighters battled bravely into the night. When, after 12-plus hours, officials declared the blaze extinguished, the French Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, dating back some 850 years, was still standing, its famous windows, bell towers, and organ all intact. But the roof had caved in and the interior had been gutted. That morning, President Emmanuel Macron vowed that Notre-Dame would be rebuilt in five years—no small feat, given that the original construction took nearly two centuries—and it would be “more beautiful than before.” His pledge fulfilled, the world will soon see the results of the herculean effort when the cathedral reopens on December 7 and 8 with a consecration Mass said…

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Architectural Digest (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 2024

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