Five years after a devastating fire ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral, journalists were granted a first look at the stunning restoration of its interior during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The transformation of the iconic Gothic structure is awe-inspiring: brilliant stonework gleams, gilded details shine anew, and the cathedral’s majestic presence has been revived. From December 8, visitors will once again be able to admire this blend of history and craftsmanship.
Here’s a glimpse of the cathedral’s rebirth from a reporter’s perspective:
Nave: A Glowing Revival
Once shrouded in soot and rubble, the nave now radiates a celestial glow. The true beauty of the cathedral’s walls — a pale, golden-hued Lutetian limestone, named after ancient Paris — is now visible as sunlight pours through newly restored stained-glass windows. The soft blond tones illuminate the towering Gothic columns and ribbed vaults, creating a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere. It’s the first time in centuries that the stone’s natural color has been fully exposed.
The newly polished marble checkerboard floor gleams underfoot, smooth enough to glide across, and it complements the gilded partition that separates the choir area. Above, majestic chandeliers hang from each arch, casting a warm, golden light throughout the space.
The restoration team cleaned more than 42,000 square meters of stonework — an area equivalent to six football fields — using innovative latex peels that delicately removed centuries of grime without damaging the structure. During the process, masons uncovered marks left by medieval craftsmen, offering a rare glimpse into the hands that shaped Notre Dame centuries ago.
This gleaming new vision stands in stark contrast to the wreckage of 2019, when the nave was filled with charred debris.
Altar: A Lasting Symbol of Tragedy
At the altar, a poignant reminder of the fire’s devastation is preserved in the form of a melted lead piece fused into the hand of Christ in Nicolas Coustou’s Pietà, part of the Vœu de Louis XIII ensemble. The restorers chose to leave this as a subtle yet powerful memorial to the tragedy.
The intricate marquetry floor around the altar, which had long been hidden beneath layers of dirt, has been meticulously pieced together from fragments recovered after the fire. Nearby, the Cross of Glory, which miraculously glowed amid the flames, has been fully restored to its former brilliance, framed by the radiant stonework of the nave.
Organ: An Intricate Restoration
The cathedral’s grand organ, one of the largest and most significant in France, has undergone a painstaking revival. Though it survived the flames, it was coated in lead dust, so its 8,000 pipes — ranging from the size of a pen to more than 10 meters tall — had to be disassembled, cleaned, and retuned with precision. This delicate work was carried out in the cathedral’s vast interior, where the fine-tuning was done entirely by ear. Now, the organ’s grandeur is unmistakable, its wooden case gleaming under the light from restored clerestory windows, commanding awe even in silence.
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Chapels: Rediscovered Murals
The 29 chapels surrounding the nave and choir are once again bursting with vivid colors and intricate details. Many murals, once dulled by dirt and neglect, have been uncovered and carefully restored. The chapel of Saint Marcel is especially remarkable, with its stunning mural of the saint’s relics now brought to life with radiant colors, likened to a visual feast comparable to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. In other chapels, traces of 19th-century painters’ test colors have been revealed, offering a glimpse into the artistic process of the era.
Transept Crossing: A Remarkable Reconstruction
The transept crossing, where the original spire collapsed, posed one of the most difficult challenges for the restoration team. New vaults made from Lutetian limestone now rise above, replicating the original medieval design with exceptional accuracy. Beneath, archaeologists uncovered fragments of the cathedral’s medieval choir screen, revealing intricately carved stones, some with faint traces of polychrome paint, offering a rare window into the vibrant decorative style of the 13th century.
Roof, Spire, and Fire Safety
The newly restored roof rises with a renewed sense of grandeur, using medieval timber techniques that have been faithfully reproduced. Known as “the forest,” the hidden wooden framework is a marvel of craftsmanship. The spire, standing 96 meters high, has been faithfully restored to match the 19th-century design by architect Viollet-le-Duc. Clad in oak and lead, it is crowned by a gilded rooster that holds relics of St. Denis, St. Genevieve, and a fragment of the Crown of Thorns, along with a scroll listing contributors to the restoration.
The spire also honors the late General Jean-Louis Georgelin, who led the restoration project until his death in 2023, with his name etched at the base.
In addition to its stunning restoration, the cathedral is now equipped with state-of-the-art fire prevention systems. Thermal cameras monitor the roof, and a fine misting system is designed to extinguish flames at their source. Fireproof barriers now divide the roof into compartments to prevent the spread of fire, and reinforced water supply lines can deliver up to 600 cubic meters of water per hour, ensuring that the cathedral is better protected than ever before.
This grand restoration is not just a return to the past but a leap forward in safeguarding the future of one of the world’s greatest architectural treasures.