The historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was honored today, with French President Emanuel Macron and cameras entering the interior of the building for the first time to give citizens a glimpse of the work under reconstruction.

As Le Figaro reports, France’s leader wrote on the X platform this morning “We did it”, posting a video of the cathedral and the melodic voice of Edith Piaf can be heard.

Eight days before the reopening of Notre Dame de Paris, Emmanuel Macron was inside the building with the First Lady of France, Bridget Macron, the mayor of the “City of Light,” Ann Idalgo and the architect who designed the outdoor plaza, by his side.

Macron’s tour is being broadcast live on television. His tour inside Notre Dame de Paris began after 11:30 a.m. (GMT) and will last two hours.

Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech “in the square” of the cathedral on Saturday, December 7. The following day, the first mass will be celebrated in the cathedral, which went up in flames in April 2019.

Five years after the fire that destroyed France’s historic cathedral, the Paris Cathedral is preparing to reopen its doors to the public.

On Saturday, December 7, the cathedral’s opening day – 24 hours before the first service – French President Emmanuel Macron will be present to mark what he calls “a form of rebirth of the building.”

Aware of the international significance that the inauguration ceremony will take on, the leader of the Fifth French Republic will deliver a fairly short speech demonstrating the importance of the reopening of Notre Dame de Paris, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

In addition, the Elysee resident is expected to express his heartfelt thanks to the builders and all those who contributed to the restoration of the cathedral in record time.

With fifteen million visitors a year, Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the top attractions in the French capital. It is both a place of worship and a monument, bearing witness to the history of Paris since its construction.

Almost five years after the fire in April 2019, Notre Dame de Paris is finally coming back to life, officially welcoming the public on 8 December 2024. For the French press, December 8, 2024 will mark not only the rebirth of this architectural masterpiece, but also the perseverance and determination of all those who worked to restore it. A date to be remembered by all lovers of culture and heritage.

“This is a landmark building in Paris, just like its courtyard, which houses the archaeological crypt of the Ole de la Cite, preserving the remnants of a Paris of the past.

The reopening of Notre Dame de Paris will be accompanied by a number of new features: a completely redesigned courtyard, free reservations to limit the flow of visitors and a tour route to discover the restored treasures.

The first service to mark this historic event will be celebrated on Sunday 8 December, followed by celebrations throughout the year until June 2025, in conjunction with the anniversary year for pilgrims. In addition, a free booking system will be set up through a special application, which will be accessible in a few days.

A special queue will be created for those who wish to pray or attend the service, although the wait may be long depending on the traffic.

For now, admission is free. A ticket is required for access to the vault, a separate area that houses functional and historical artifacts. However, admission can be gained for a fee. This was called for in an earlier statement by the French Minister of Culture, Rashida Dati, to Le Figaro newspaper, stressing that charging for entrance to Notre Dame would save all the churches in France. The price of the ticket is estimated at 5 euros. However, the minister was quick to clarify that the ticket was not related to the cathedral’s services and services.

If entrance to Notre Dame was charged, access to these religious ceremonies should be free. The courtyard has been redesigned to provide a more welcoming, plant-filled space with facilities for visitors and worshippers. This transformation aims to make the Notre Dame experience more spiritual, allowing visitors to enjoy the restored environment around this monument.

Visitors will be able to admire the restored bell tower as well as the roof of the nave and choir. Three themed guided tours will be offered, each of which will allow visitors to discover different aspects of the cathedral, from its religious heritage to its works of art. Full tours and access by groups will be available from June 2025.