AG百家乐在线官网

Photos show Notre-Dame restoration work after devastating 2019 fire - a year before planned reopening

The Paris cathedral has been closed to the public since a fire tore through the roof and spire in April 2019. With a year to go until its doors reopen, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the landmark with his wife Brigitte.

Friday 8 December 2023 15:48, UK

Notre Dame de Paris cathedral is pictured from the top of the spire Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron...s visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS
Image: An aerial view of Notre-Dame
Why you can trust Sky News

French President Emmanuel Macron has visited Notre-Dame Cathedral to mark one year until its scheduled reopening.

The Paris landmark has been closed to the public since April 2019, when a blaze burned through its roof and spire.

As rebuilding and restoration works have taken place, Mr Macron has visited frequently to highlight the progress.

Photos from his latest visit, his sixth since the fire, show huge oak beams that have been lifted AG百家乐在线官网ward so the cathedral can be re-roofed.

French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing a working helmet, arrives to visit the nave of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was ravaged by a fire in 2019 that sent its spire crumbling down, as restoration works continue a year before its reopening to the public, in Paris, France, December 8, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool
Image: Emmanuel Macron wears a hard hat during a tour of the cathedral
Carpenters work at Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTER
Image: Carpenters working on the Notre-Dame roof
Brigitte Macron talks with a worker as she visits the nave of Notre-Dame
Image: Mr Macron's wife Brigitte Macron also toured the cathedral

Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron went up the spire, which is being reconstructed from its previous design by the 19th century French architect Viollet-le-Duc.

The 96-metre spire has been rebuilt using centuries-old wood from a former royal forest.

A view of Notre Dame de Paris cathedral Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS
Image: The final year of restoration works is now under way

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How the Notre-Dame fire took hold

It will soon be topped with a cross and rooster, restoring an emotional symbol of French heritage.

Photographs taken from outside the cathedral show that the cross is nearly ready to be unveiled.

Part of the cross is seen at the top of the spire at Notre Dame de Paris cathedral Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron's visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15, 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spi
Image: Part of the cross is seen at the top of the spire
Notre Dame de Paris cathedral is pictured form the spire of the monument, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christ
Image: The view from the partially-rebuilt spire
Notre Dame de Paris cathedral is pictured form the spire of the monument, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christ
Image: Notre-Dame has been closed to the public since the April 2019 fire

Mr Macron told reporters: "Since April 2019, the entire nation has been rebuilding.

"And it's very moving to be here a year before. You can see the extraordinary progress of the work on this nave, the choir and the frames and the spire."

Read more from Sky News:
Serial killer arrested over unsolved murder of girl
Urgent search for toddler who was snatched in street
Adele reveals why she won't move back to UK

Notre Dame de Paris cathedral is pictured form the spire of the monument, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christ
Image: The Paris landmark is being painstakingly restored to its former glory
Workers operate at Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking the one-year countdown to its reopening in 2024 following extensive restoration after the fire four years ago. Macron鈥檚 visit, continuing his annual tradition since the blaze on April 15 2019, is aimed to highlight the progress in the works, including the near completion of the cathedral spire. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTER

Mr Macron also paid tribute to General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who oversaw Notre-Dame's reconstruction and died in August.

The French president helped as General Georgelin's name was inscribed in the wood of the spire, in honour of his contribution to the cathedral.

Related Topics