French president Emmanuel Macron toured the restored Notre Dame Cathedral on Friday, marking a significant step in its reconstruction following the devastating 2019 fire. Joined by the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, and Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of France’s national monuments, the president viewed the completed interior ahead of the cathedral’s public reopening on 7 December.

The fire had left the cathedral’s roof and spire destroyed and its interiors exposed, requiring extensive repairs undertaken by hundreds of craftspeople. The visit showcased the results of over five years of restoration, including meticulously repaired vaulted ceilings and cleaned stonework, which has revealed the bright, cream-coloured limestone.

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