Amazing timelapse of final restoration work on Notre Dame!

Even though the images have been seen around the world over the past five years, the technical, architectural, and human feats of the Notre Dame of Paris construction site continue to fascinate. This is once again the case with the latest post on the Instagram account of the public institution in charge of restoring Notre Dame of Paris, Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris.

It features a time-lapse video of the work carried out inside Notre Dame over the last few months before the public reopening. It shows the removal of scaffolding, the ballet of cranes, the restoration of floors, the installation of chandeliers, and finally the first Masses, as the building regains its original purpose of welcoming the people of God. Take a minute to marvel once again at this extraordinary project and the result that has amazed the entire world.

The iconic cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris caught fire on April 15, 2019. People around the world watched in horror as the most famous Gothic church in the world burned, its central spire and its roof falling in. There was a real risk that the entire building could collapse. Fortunately, heroic firefighters managed to save the main structure, as well as the relics and artistic treasures held within.

The first stone of Notre Dame was laid in 1163, but as is often the case, the construction of the main structural elements took nearly 100 years. The ravages of time and historical events such as the French Revolution took their toll, and at one point the cathedral was in danger of being demolished.

Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame de Paris helped inspire renewed interest in the building, and desire to preserve it. This led to a major restoration, which took place in the 19th century. The work, under the direction of Eugène-Emmanual Viollet-le-Duc, included replacing the original spire and the addition of gargoyles and other neo-Gothic elements.

After the 2019 fire, considerable debate took place regarding the restoration. Proposals included the addition of contemporary elements that would transform the landmark’s appearance. In France, historic churches belong to the civil authorities, not to the Church, so clergy and lay faithful alike were forced to stand aside (albeit not in silence) while the government decided the fate of the beloved cathedral.

In the end, the government decided to restore the cathedral to its state before the fire. That included rebuilding the famously monumental wooden structure that supported the roof, using techniques similar to those of the medieval carpenters. It also included a thorough cleaning, which revealed the bright color of the original stone and decorative painting on portions of the cathedral’s walls.

The only elements that reflect a contemporary aesthetic are the altar, baptistry, and other liturgical furnishings. This inevitably caused some controversy.

Restoration work reached a point where the cathedral could be re-opened on December 8, 2024. However, as the Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris shows, work continues. Every detail is being lovingly restored to bring Notre Dame back to her former glory.