Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral welcomed over 12 million visitors each year before the fire.
Notre-Dame's cross, a symbol of Christianity and UNESCO world heritage site, survived the 2019 fire.
Restoration project for Notre-Dame de Paris started five years ago with contributions from over 250 companies and hundreds of professionals.
The cross is 12 meters tall and weighs approximately 1.5 tons.
The cross was taken to an ironworks in Normandy for complex repairs and restored using original metal.
PARIS (AP) – The cross at the apse of Notre-Dame de Paris, a symbol of Christianity and a UNESCO world heritage site that survived the devastating 2019 fire, was reinstalled atop the cathedral's framework on May 24, 2024. The imposing cross, spanning 12 meters and weighing approximately 1.5 tons, is the only element of the choir roof that resisted the flames.
The restoration project for Notre-Dame de Paris has seen contributions from approximately 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen, architects, and professionals since its inception five years ago. The cathedral's reopening is planned for December 8, 2024.
The fire on April 15, 2019, caused the collapse of Notre-Dame's spire and part of its roof. Despite the extensive damage, the cross remained intact. The restoration has made significant progress since then, including the reinstallation of the spire's lead-covered needle.
The cross was taken to an ironworks in Normandy for complex repairs. Architect Axelle Ponsonnet oversaw its restoration to ensure it adhered to the original 19th-century design by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. She expressed her happiness that the cross could be repaired and restored using the original metal.
The Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral welcomed over 12 million visitors each year before the fire, making it a significant cultural and religious landmark in Paris.
