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.

Notre-Dame Cathedral will soon reopen its doors after undergoing a five-year renovation period. A fire on April 15, 2019 left significant damage to the iconic cathedral and prompted its yearslong closure to the public. For over eight centuries, the cathedral has been a place of worship and gatherings, as well as a popular tourist attraction.

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.

Five years after a massive fire engulfed the centuries-old Notre-Dame de Paris and toppled its iconic spire, leaving a gaping hole in the heart of Paris while the world watched helplessly, the Catholic cathedral has been restored to its former glory.

The Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, whose historic bells were silenced following 2019’s devastating fire, will soon echo again with fresh chimes. Although the Cathedral will reopen on 7 December, the process has been far from smooth.

The restoration mobilized 2,000 artisans and cost 700 million euros to restore the historic landmark.

Notre Dame features both grotesques, which are decorative, and gargoyles, which double as rainspouts. Masons took damaged gargoyles down to be repaired, setting some alongside newly sculpted replicas,