Notre-Dame rises from the ashes after the devastating fire: Fascinating images reveal the amazing restoration work on the cathedral before it reopens to visitors - who will be 'awestruck' Following a fire in 2019, 250 companies and hundreds of artisans have been rebuilding Notre-Dame Nat Geo was given a sneak peek at the progress ahead of the reopening on December 8 READ MORE: National Geographic reveals the best pictures its photographers took in 2024 By TED THORNHILL, MAILONLINE TRAVEL EDITOR Published: 07:24, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 07:24, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement When Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens visitors ‘will be stupefied, awestruck, by the interior – it will be a shock’. This declaration was made by Philippe Jost, president of the special public authority overseeing the restoration, to National Geographic writer Robert Kunzig, who, along with Paris-based Nat Geo photographer Tomas van Houtryve, was given a sneak peek of the interior ahead of the landmark throwing open its doors on December 8. A devastating fire engulfed the 800-year-old monument on April 15, 2019.
Since then, more than 250 companies and hundreds of skilled artisans have been hard at work rebuilding what is undoubtedly one of the most famous – and historically valuable - tourist attractions in the world. Writing in the December 2024 issue of National Geographic, Kunzig sheds light on why Jost is convinced that visitors are about to be held spellbound, expl.