Reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral Bell Towers in Paris After Six Years of Restoration
The two bell towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened to visitors on Saturday after six years of reconstruction following a devastating fire.
The two bell towers of the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened their doors to tourists today, Saturday, September 20, an event that took place six years after the devastating fire that ravaged this precious monument.
During this restoration, a spiral staircase made of oak wood with 424 steps was constructed in the towers; a structure that, according to experts, is recognized as one of the spectacular components of the restoration project. These towers, standing at a height of 69 meters, house 13 bells. The most important of them is “Emmanuel,” a massive bell from the seventeenth century weighing approximately 13 tons, whose sound rang throughout the city in 1944 during the liberation of Paris in World War II. This historical symbol now appears refreshed with a new structure and medieval bells.
Previously, the main section of Notre-Dame Cathedral was reopened in the winter of 2024 and during that short period received widespread acclaim. This medieval structure now attracts nearly eight million visitors annually and has even surpassed the Eiffel Tower in popularity.
For the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, approximately 800 million euros were collected through donations from more than 350,000 people from 150 countries around the world, with nearly 140 million euros still remaining to be allocated.
Notre-Dame Cathedral, which has been one of the most prominent symbols of Paris since the eleventh century, has survived major historical trials such as two world wars and the French Revolution. Its worldwide fame is largely linked to Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” written in the nineteenth century.
