The Notre Dame cathedral was largely destroyed in a fire in 2019, but it has slowly been restored to its former glory in the five years since.

Five years after a catastrophic fire, Paris's beloved cathedral will open to great fanfare. Nat Geo got exclusive access to witness how an army of architects and artisans rebuilt the church back to its sacred splendor.

The devastating fire was more than a loss to architecture; it was a cultural tragedy, a reminder of how fragile even the most enduring symbols can be.