Notre Dame : A Triumph of Faith and Restoration

We had resigned ourselves to thinking we would never be able to get in to Notre Dame with its recent reopening, but persistence pays off. We got a early entrance ticket for our third day. 

Notre-Dame has stood in the center of Paris in some iteration since the early peoples. Construction on this cathedral began in 1136. What took nearly two centuries to built (imagine the faith and determination over generations, not to mention the genius) the fire in 2019 threatened to devastate in a few hours. The heat of the flames melted the lead roof which collapsed to the floor below.

A snarl of metal and chard timbers opened the church to the heavens. We were here just before the pandemic in early 2020.

The destruction was palpable as mourners filed around the site in a solemn silence as a hive of workers bustled above on scaffolding removing debris and shoring the structure for repair.

The question of when or if it would reopen in the air despite the projection of a five year reconstruction.

We have visited the cathedral several times over the years. Like most gothic churches built 600-800 hundred years ago, Notre-Dame had darkened with age over time, the walls, columns,ceiling and art works succumbing to a film of dirt, soot and air pollution. The church was dark and cold save for the beautiful stained glass. After the fire, reconstruction and restoration began at a fever pitch. Five years later, last month, the resurrection! Notre Dame was unveiled and open to the public.

The cathedral is truly an amazing. The miracle that it was built at all, is reinforced by the wonder that it was repaired in only five years. Today the cathedral stands light and bright. The stone which had darkened over time prior to the soot and ash of the fire, now exudes light and warmth.

The stained glass is striking, rich in jewel toned pieces, allowing a heavenly light to pass through. The statuary is cleaned and repaired and replaced.

The frescos and paintings  that previously colored the walls of the chapels and altars are once again refreshed pastels, rich deep tones, punctuated with shiny gold leaf. 

Though restoration continues on the exterior, the heart of the cathedral is beating once more. The best advice? Arrive early (an advance reservation is essential) to experience the peace and quiet of this sacred space before the crowds arrive.

Notre-Dame is not just a building; it is a testament to faith, resilience, and the enduring power of human craftsmanship. Seeing it reborn is nothing short of miraculous.