French president Emmanuel Macron has officially reopened the north and south towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, nearly six and a half years after the devastating 2019 fire. The towers are set to readmit the public starting Saturday, September 20th.
The cathedral itself was ceremonially reopened in December 2024, in an event attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including Jill Biden, U.S. president Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Great Britain’s Prince William, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Built around 1260, Notre Dame has been a central feature of Paris for more than 850 years, attracting more visitors annually than even the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre. The 2019 fire caused widespread destruction, particularly to the roof, prompting a large-scale reconstruction effort.
Restoration required the felling of 1,200 oak trees from forests across France to rebuild the roof’s framework, alongside the efforts of 1,000 construction workers.
Interior design choices and wider French politics helped to fuel various controversies in the build-up to the reopening of the building and, more recently, its towers.
