Restored interiors of Notre-Dame Cathedral unveiled days ahead of official reopening in Paris on December 7, an important step toward its full recovery from the fire in April 2019. More than five years of restoration work have gone into the effort, although scaffolding will continue to cover parts of the cathedral until 2028.

It’s very new, restored interior showcases its bright limestone walls perfectly. They have cleaned their stains and soot as from the fire so elegantly. This luminously shines, with creamed-coloured finish giving some impression of light and lightness within the room’s walls. To these shiny stone walls are the black and white checkered polished flooring – its contrasting sheen and design bringing contrast to the solid-oak chairs and renovated stained windows.

One of the key elements of the restoration-though not visible in the newly published images-is the wooden roof, which was completely devastated by the fire. Recreating the roof with French craftsmen using traditional hand-sawn timber, taking pains to shape it similarly to its original 13th-century design with the axes, is a real masterpiece.

Outside the cathedral, one will also observe that the 96-meter-tall, reconstructed spire – such a central element in Notre-Dame’s architecture – had completely caved in during the fire. Today, it has been rebuilt to look like its older 1859 counterpart done by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc at the top of a newer cross and a golden rooster, made possible by architect Philippe Villeneuve, who is now guiding the restoration work.

French President Emmanuel Macron, deeply involved in the restoration process, recently announced that the reopening of Notre-Dame will symbolize “a shock of hope,” a strong contrast to the shock of the fire itself. Speculations over the future of the spire were put to rest just after the fire when Macron confirmed that it would be rebuilt in its original form.

Aside from the interior and exterior face-lifting, works in renovating the forecourt and the surrounding space have been under way. Belgium architect Bas Smets is converting this square in front of the Notre-Dame. Now, an old, derelict underground carpark will be turned into this new visitor center. Notre-Dame reconstruction would not be merely physical restoration, but it would be an image of France’s and the world’s revival.