From the Île de la Cité in Paris, out from the northern Belfry of the Notre Dame, the tolling of bells was heard by thousands.
It was the first tolling since 2020, a year after a fire destroyed much of the 850-year-old building in 2019, and their restoration represents an important milestone in the lead-up to the cathedral’s opening in less than a month.
Eight of the bells rang as part of a technical test on Friday. Neither the bells nor the belfry had been destroyed in the fire, but they were damaged and it took over a year to restore that part of the building.
“Hearing the bells ring this morning was very moving,” Mr. Alexandre Gougeon, who managed their installation, told CNN, adding it was “the culmination of a big project.”
Three new bells were added to the tower, including a large one donated by the Parisian olympic planning committee. It was rung with a mallet above the Stade de France, the country’s national stadium, whenever an athlete won gold or broke a record.
Though the structure wasn’t ready for the Paris Olympics, as President Emmanuel Macron had originally planned, all the notable milestones have been met, including the restoration of the roof, spire, bells, and golden cockerel.
READ MORE ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL’S RESTORATION: Rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral Takes Leap Forward as the Majestic Spire Is Pieced Together
Philippe Jost, president of the public body responsible for conserving and restoring the UNESCO World Heritage Site, credited 2,000 people working to restore the building by December 8th.
“Everything is almost ready, which means we’re on schedule. We’re confident,” Jost told radio network RTL. “Every day the cathedral is more beautiful,”
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