Key events
Oliver Wainwright
Oliver Wainwright, the Guardian’s architecture and design critic, was given early access to the restored cathedral. Here’s his take:
With France plunged into political turmoil, and president Emmanuel Macron’s approval ratings at an all time low, the country might be thankful to have a distraction of epic proportions this weekend. All eyes will be on Notre Dame, as Paris prepares to unveil the interior of its hallowed cathedral, “the soul of France” finally resurrected following a meticulous five-year, €700m (£582m) restoration.
The herculean project has seen 2,000 oak trees gathered from forests across France, hewn into beams with axes and pegged into great trusses by hand using medieval tools. It has witnessed over a thousand cubic metres of limestone being hauled into place, chiselled into leaping arches and gurning gargoyles, as well as 4,000 square metres of lead, rolled, crimped and moulded into ornamental roofing. It has also been the stage for a celebrity wallet-waving spectacle, seeing French luxury goods billionaires racing to outdo each other in the size of their donations – reaching almost €900m (£749m) just two days after the fire, endowing the cathedral with a substantial maintenance kitty for years to come.
The astonishing and lavishly funded endeavour has been a lifeline for endangered craftsmanship, single-handedly reviving a host of specialist building industries across France and beyond. The project mobilised a 2,000-strong army of master masons, carpenters, roofers, glassworkers, organ restorers and painting conservators, many using centuries-old techniques. This elaborate medieval cosplay has returned the majestic pile to just the way it was before the 2019 fire – only cleaner, brighter and more colourful than ever.
Guests have begun filing into Notre Dame cathedral for the ceremonies.
Many of them are revelling at the renovated interiors, with many whipping out cell phones to take photos, Associated Press reports.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has also arrived at the Élysée palace, joining Macron and Trump for a meeting before the reopening.
The meeting comes at a key moment; earlier this week, Reuters reported that advisers to Trump are publicly and privately floating proposals to end the Ukraine war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future.
Trump repeatedly pledged during his election campaign to end the nearly three-year-old conflict within 24 hours of his 20 January inauguration, if not before then, but has yet to say how.
Ahead of the reopening, Macron has welcomed the US president-elect, Donald Trump, at the Élysée palace, the official residence of the French president.
Before the two headed inside, Trump offered a hint of what was on the agenda for the two of them, telling reporters: “It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that.”
The current president, Joe Biden, was invited tonight, but his office said he had a scheduling conflict. Instead the first lady, Jill Biden, will represent the United States.
Here are a few photos of Macron greeting Trump from the wires:
Notre Dame to reopen, five years after fire
Philip Oltermann
The restored Gothic spire of Notre Dame is to provide a dramatic backdrop for Donald Trump’s return to the geopolitical stage this evening, as the US president-elect prepares to make his first visit to Europe since the election to mingle with world leaders at an official reopening ceremony in Paris.
The medieval cathedral, which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, has been reconstructed in a painstaking €700m (£580m) effort that took just five years, involving the application of carpentry methods dating to the 13th century and enabled with donations from 150 countries.
Festivities will stretch over two days, starting with an address by the beleaguered French president, Emmanuel Macron.
Speaking before today’s opening ceremony, Macron said:
The shock of the reopening will – I believe and I want to believe – be as strong as that of the fire, but it will be a shock of hope.
Macron had initially been expected to deliver the speech on the limestone forecourt outside the cathedral followed by a liturgical ceremony inside but late on Friday, Macron’s office and the Diocese of Paris said heavy winds would force the celebrations to be held entirely inside.
The archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will strike the 850-year-old edifice’s heavy door with his crosier, accompanied by the singing of Psalm 121, to symbolise the cathedral’s reawakening.
The service continues with the “awakening of the great organ”, which has not been heard since the fire, a solemn blessing and the singing of the Te Deum.
We’ll bring you live updates from the ceremony.
Welcome to the live blog
Good evening, bonsoir.
The bells of Notre Dame cathedral are set to ring out again after being silenced in 2019 by a devastating fire. At the time, as smoke choked the air, the spire lay in rubble, and charred beams littered the nave, Emmanuel Macron, issued an extraordinary decree: Notre Dame would rise again — in just five years.
Five and a half years later, Macron will tonight be welcoming dignitaries from around the world for the re-opening ceremony of the 861-year-old Gothic treasure.
We’ll be following it all, do stay tuned for updates.
