Notre-Dame de Paris re-opening in pictures

News Team

France on Saturday, December 7, re-opened the doors of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral after a five-year closure, in a ceremony celebrating the rebirth of the Paris landmark ravaged by a devastating fire in 2019.

Rescue workers walk past the main entrance of Notre-Dame on Saturday morning.

Soldiers patrol in front of Notre-Dame on Saturday moring.

French President Emmanuel Macron scored a major coup by attracting US President-elect Donald Trump, on his first foreign trip since his election. He was joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for three-way talks at the Elysée Palace.

French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysée.

Some 40 other leaders attended the ceremony, as well as many guests and VIPs.

Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, and Brigitte Macron.

World leaders, politicians and guests stand as the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich reads during the ceremony.

Guests attend a ceremony to mark the re-opening of Notre-Dame in central Paris on December 7, 2024.

Outside, people stood in the cold wind and rain to get a glimpse of the ceremony from television screens placed along the quay.

People queue at a security perimeter checkpoint.

A French military soldier patrols near Notre-Dame.

Spectators take snapshots outside Notre-Dame.

The re-opening officially took place when Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich opened the doors to the cathedral by knocking on them three times, marking the start of the almost two-hour ceremony.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron watch, with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, as Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich inaugurates Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Archbishop Ulrich of Paris knocks on the cathedral doors with his staff to open them.

Archbishop Ulrich of Paris at the cathedral's reopening ceremony. — Archbishop Ulrich of Paris at the cathedral’s reopening ceremony.

Macron then gave a speech, expressing the “gratitude” of the French nation for the restoration of Notre-Dame.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks in Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The word "merci" ("thank you") is seen on the facade of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. — The word “merci” (“thank you”) is seen on the facade of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Ovation in the cathedral for firefighters and workers.

Spectators gather outside France's iconic Notre-Dame. — Spectators gather outside France’s iconic Notre-Dame.

The cathedral’s four organists, Thierry Escaich, Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois and Thibault Fajoles, took part in the musical re-awakening of the organ.