France's Macron sees Notre Dame cathedral's restoration more than 5 years after it was gutted by fire
CBS
Paris: Notre-Dame Cathedral Restored 5 Years After Fire
Paris: Notre-Dame Cathedral Restored 5 Years After Fire
Above: French Pres. Emmanuel Macron speaks with an art restorer during his visit at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Modern safety features have been discreetly integrated into the restored cathedral, including thermal cameras and fireproof barriers, while the cathedral's limestone walls have been cleaned.
On April 15, 2019, the cathedral was undergoing external renovation when a fire broke out inside its roof. Some 600 firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 15 hours, and no one was killed or injured.
On Friday, French Pres. Emmanuel Macron conducted a tour of the newly renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral, officially set to reopen on Dec. 7, five years after a massive fire gutted the Gothic masterpiece.
The Spin
The restoration represents a triumph of French craftsmanship and determination, successfully meeting Pres. Macron's ambitious five-year deadline while making the cathedral even more beautiful than before through meticulous attention to historical detail and preservation of cultural heritage.
This is certainly a monumental achievement but the cathedral is far from being fully restored. With an unfinished exterior and construction equipment still cluttering the premises, it seems that Macron has declared an early victory in an obvious attempt to bolster his administration.