“Work of a lifetime”: Parisians, Restoration workers reflect on Notre-Dame blaze 5 years on

Five years after the disaster, construction workers and artisans continue to reconstruct Paris’ beloved Notre-Dame cathedral, which was partially destroyed by a massive and accidental fire on April 15, 2019, during intensive restoration efforts.

Scaffolding surrounding the 14th century monument has slowly disappeared since efforts to resurrect its heavily damaged-roof and fleche began in 2021.

“I actually saw Notre-Dame on fire, and I said to myself, 'What are they waiting for, to put out the fire?'” Parisian radiologist Albert Cohen said, reflecting on the day of the blaze. “I was thinking, it was going to be the end of Notre-Dame,” he added, in tears.

As French President Emmanuel Macron recently slated Notre-Dame’s official reopening date for Dec. 8, 2024, roughly 500 experts are working to finish its restoration on time.

“This is the construction work of a lifetime,” said Enna Roux,” a stained glass artisan involved in the efforts. “Restoring an entire monument in all its three-dimensionality, that's quite exceptional,” she added.

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