Notre Dame Cathedral nears reopening anniversary with 12 million visitors projected

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Paris – Notre Dame Cathedral is celebrating its first anniversary since its grand opening after being devastated by a fire in April 2019. tourists and worshipers Similarly, we are re-embracing historic buildings.

The cathedral is expected to welcome more than 12 million visitors by the end of this year, with some predictions of an unprecedented 15 million visitors.

The nonprofit Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, founded in 2017, has led an international fundraising campaign for the cathedral’s reconstruction and restoration. The group’s president, Michel Picoult, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that annual visitor numbers to the cathedral had reached 8 million by August.

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“Certainly we most visited monument And a cathedral in France,” Picoult said.

“We’re expecting 12 million visitors this year, which is usually a very high level of visitors, so we’re very happy.” [about] that. “

Notre Dame Cathedral inside of tourists taking pictures of the stained glass

Notre Dame Cathedral is expected to attract 12 million visitors this year as it marks the anniversary of its reopening after a devastating fire in 2019. (Ashley J. DiMera/Fox News Digital)

April 15, 2019 fire caused the collapse The roof of the cathedral and part of its exterior. The interior was also destroyed by the fire.

The history of the cathedral dates back to the 12th century. Construction began in 1163 and took almost 200 years to fully complete. “Renovated in the 18th century and restored in the 19th, this building has been a symbol of Christian worship in Paris for centuries,” the newspaper said. Cathedral website. The structure is approximately 420 feet long and 157 feet wide.

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“Inside the cathedral, we had to replace what was destroyed by the fire,” Picoult said.

“So typically liturgical equipment. There’s a new altar, a new baptismal font, for example. There’s a reliquary. Christ’s crown of thornsalso new seats. This is what’s new. ”

Tourists lining up outside Notre Dame Cathedral

On April 15, 2019, a fire caused the roof and part of the exterior of the cathedral to collapse, and the interior was also destroyed. (Ashley J. DiMera/Fox News Digital)

He said the next stage of the restoration will take four years and will address the exterior.

”[It] repair the exterior of cathedral Below roof level, especially the magnificent flying buttresses, gargoyles and grotesques, all of which make Notre-Dame’s appearance so spectacular,” he said.

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New stained glass will also be installed.

The cathedral dates back to the 12th century and the structure is 420 feet long and 157 feet wide. (Ashley J. DiMera/Fox News Digital)

Picoult said the cathedral welcomes both believers and visitors. host a religious event Through every day.

“We will adjust the number of people entering the cathedral depending on the situation.” [whether] we have service [in progress] I don’t know if it is, but I think this has become a lot easier,” he said.