A powerful symbol of resilience and restoration

The bells of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris rang out together on Friday, marking their first chime since a catastrophic fire swept through the historic monument in April 2019. This symbolic moment comes one month before the cathedral’s anticipated reopening, following five years of meticulous restoration that has returned it to its former grandeur. The bells’ sound is a step toward fulfilling President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious goal to rebuild Notre Dame “even more beautiful” than before.

The journey to restoration

The evening of April 15, 2019, left the world stunned as flames engulfed the UNESCO World Heritage Site, severely damaging the northern belfry and toppling its iconic spire. President Macron swiftly announced a five-year restoration plan, rallying resources from around the globe. The project ultimately enlisted around 250 companies and hundreds of skilled experts, with costs reaching hundreds of millions of euros.

“This is a beautiful, important, and symbolic step,” said Philippe Jost, head of the restoration project, as the eight bells sounded from the cathedral’s northern belfry. “We are not yet perfect, but we will make it perfect,” added Alexandre Gougeon, who supervised the bells’ reinstallation, describing Friday’s test as a success.

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A sound of hope and joy

The bells rang in harmony for five minutes, with Guillaume Normand, Notre Dame’s vice rector, describing the chimes as “a signal of joy.” “It’s November 8, and Notre Dame is telling us: ‘I’m here, waiting for you.'”

Each bell in the historic belfry, from the massive “Gabriel,” weighing over four tons, to the lighter “Jean-Marie,” at 800 kilograms, was removed, cleaned, and restored before reinstallation. This effort addressed the lead and dust accumulation from the fire damage.

Preparations for a grand reopening

A weekend of celebratory ceremonies on December 7 and 8 will mark the cathedral’s reopening. Philippe Jost hinted that the event will feature “great artists of international standing, which is what the cathedral deserves.” While the program remains under wraps, speculation abounds, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a possible performance by former Beatles member Paul McCartney, who is scheduled to be in Paris in early December.

Once open, Notre Dame is expected to draw an estimated 14 to 15 million visitors annually, surpassing its pre-fire divs of around 12 million in 2017.