The bells of Notre Dame in Paris rang out collectively on Friday for the primary time since a 2019 fireplace that devastated the historic cathedral, AFP reporters stated.
Reopening in December
The sound of the eight bells in Notre Dame’s northern belfry got here a month earlier than the cathedral is to reopen following 5 years of painstaking restoration work within the wake of the blaze.
“This can be a lovely, necessary and symbolic step,” stated Philippe Jost, who runs the general public physique tasked with restoring the cathedral beneath difficult circumstances.
On the night of April 19, 2019 Parisians and the world watched in horror as flames ravaged the world heritage landmark after which toppled its spire.
President Emmanuel Macron shortly set the formidable purpose to rebuild Notre Dame inside 5 years and make it “much more lovely” than earlier than.
Some 250 firms and lots of of specialists have been mobilised for a restoration costing lots of of tens of millions of euros.
Friday shortly earlier than 11:30 (SA time), the bells sounded one after the other till all eight chimed in concord.
“It’s not excellent but, however we’ll make it excellent,” stated Alexandre Gougeon who’s in control of the re-installation of the bells.
“This primary check was a hit.”
Bells eliminated, cleaned of mud and lead
The 2019 fireplace destroyed a part of the northern belfry, requiring it to be restored and the bells to be eliminated, cleaned of mud and lead, after which returned to their house.
The heaviest bell, known as “Gabriel”, weighs over 4 tonnes, and the lightest, “Jean-Marie”, 800 kilogrammes.
A weekend of ceremonies is to mark Notre Dame’s reopening on December 7 and eight.
Have you ever ever visited Notre Dame in Paris?
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