PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron will tour renovation work on Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral on Friday ahead of its Dec. 7 reopening, five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire and caused extensive damage .

Here’s what you need to know:

WHAT IS NOTRE-DAME?

A masterpiece of medieval Gothic, Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the most appreciated and visited monuments in the French capital. Its ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, stunning stained glass windows and carved stone gargoyles have long been celebrated in books and films.

The foundation stone was laid in 1163 and construction continued for much of the next century, with significant restorations and additions carried out in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Victor Hugo used the cathedral as the setting for his 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.” Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed by Hollywood actors, including Charles Laughton, as well as in a Disney animated adaptation.

WHY AND HOW DID IT BURN?

On the evening of April 15, 2019, the roof of the cathedral caught fire. Soon the fire ravaged the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Viewers around the world watched in horror as the medieval building burned down.

The roof collapsed but the bell towers and the facade held up.

It is still unclear what exactly caused the fire. French authorities said an electrical fault or a lit cigarette could be the cause.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY?

President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech in front of the cathedral on Saturday December 7 at around 6 p.m. (5 p.m. GMT), after which Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris, will use his crosier to knock on the cathedral’s heavy doors.

From inside the cathedral, a psalm will be sung three times in response to the knocks, after which the doors will open. The Archbishop will bless the cathedral’s ancient organ before it begins to play. This will be followed by a service.

The service is by invitation only and the guest list is not yet known. It will be followed by a show broadcast from the cathedral square, details of which are not yet available.

FIRST MASS ON SUNDAY DEC 8

The archbishop will celebrate a mass, starting at 10:30 a.m. (09:30 GMT), the first of eight days of masses dedicated to the reopening and focused on thanking, among others, the donors who paid for the renovations and the firefighters who contributed to save him. Some masses, notably that on the evening of December 8, at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. GMT), will be open to the public.

WHEN CAN YOU VISIT?

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to visit the cathedral on the evening of December 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., but there will likely be fierce competition – and long queues – to visit the cathedral at first.

The cathedral specifies that from the beginning of December, visitors will be able to reserve a free ticket online, on its website, on social networks or on a dedicated application, to enter the building the same day or one or two days later the reservation. There will also be a queue on site for those wishing to enter without a reservation.

Groups will only have access next year – from February 1 for religious groups or from June 9 for tourists accompanied by guides.

The cathedral is expected to welcome 14 to 15 million visitors each year. There is a big debate in France over whether visitors should pay to enter. The Church is opposed to this and for the moment, the visit remains free.

HOW WAS THE CATHEDRAL REBUILT?

Money poured in from around the world, including French luxury billionaires François Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. So much money has been given – more than 840 million euros ($882 million), according to Macron’s office – that there will even be funds left over for new investments in the building.

The damage required five years of restoration work.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

Authorities say the cathedral will be more beautiful than ever, not only because its spire, roof and everything destroyed by the fire have been rebuilt by thousands of expert craftsmen, but also because the stone and the paintings, blackened over the years, have been restored. carefully cleaned. The furniture has also been renovated and cleaned, or even replaced.

Not everything was damaged by the fire. For example, rescue workers formed a human chain to move gem-encrusted chalices and other priceless items out of harm’s way. REUTERS