France's Macron sees Notre Dame cathedral's restoration more than 5 years after it was gutted by fire
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Paris: Notre-Dame Cathedral Restored 5 Years After Fire
Above: French Pres. Emmanuel Macron speaks with an art restorer during his visit at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
On Friday, French Pres. Emmanuel Macron conducted a tour of the newly renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral, officially set to reopen on Dec. 7, five years after a massive fire gutted the Gothic masterpiece.
The five-year restoration project, which cost €700M ($739M), mobilized 2K craftspeople, including stonemasons, carpenters, sculptors, and organ builders, to restore the 12th-century monument.
The Spin
Narrative A
The restoration represents a triumph of French craftsmanship and determination, successfully meeting Pres. Macron's ambitious five-year deadline while making the cathedral even more beautiful than before through meticulous attention to historical detail and preservation of cultural heritage.
Narrative B
This is certainly a monumental achievement but the cathedral is far from being fully restored. With an unfinished exterior and construction equipment still cluttering the premises, it seems that Macron has declared an early victory in an obvious attempt to bolster his administration.