Notre Dame will reopen its doors as early as this weekend
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Paris will witness a historic event this weekend as the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris reopens its doors after a five-year renovation following a devastating fire in 2019.
The opening will take place in an atmosphere of strict security, inspired by the measures used during the Olympic Games in Paris. Only residents of the Cité and guests with personal invitations will be able to enter the cathedral grounds, which will be completely closed to tourists.
The celebrations will begin on Saturday afternoon with a symbolic ritual: the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will open the doors of Notre Dame with a blow of his staff. He will then "awaken" the cathedral's famous organ, a huge instrument with 8,000 pipes that was damaged by toxic dust after a fire but has been carefully restored and tuned.
The ceremony will also include psalms, prayers and singing. French President Emmanuel Macron will address the VIP guests, which will include around 50 heads of state, including Donald Trump. It is not yet known who will be part of the delegation from Luxembourg, but we will keep an eye on developments.
On Saturday evening, the audience will be treated to a concert featuring international stars such as opera singers Pretty Yende and Julie Fouche, pianist Lan Lan, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Angelique Kidjo. The concert will be a tribute to all those involved in the restoration of the cathedral.
To ensure order, the entire Cité island, nine bridges and part of the southern bank of the Seine will be closed. Shops and tourist facilities on the island, as well as boat tours, will suspend operations for the weekend. Special areas on the south bank of the Seine will be opened to the public, where up to 40,000 spectators will be able to follow the events via screens.
On Sunday, the archbishop will conduct the first service, which will include the consecration of the cathedral's new altar. 170 bishops and priests from 106 parishes in Paris are expected to attend. The Mass will be followed by a lunch for the needy, emphasising the cathedral's role as a symbol of charity and unity.
