The bells of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris have rung for the first time since April 2019, when a devastating fire broke out in the spire and roof of the historic church. Source: National Catholic Register.
Housed in the northern belfry of the cathedral, which had been partially destroyed by the fire, the bells rang out one at a time on Friday, then sounded out together.
Though authorities have not determined whether the fire was an accident, an initial investigation found that it could have been caused by an electrical malfunction.
French President Emmanuel Macron immediately announced his intention to repair the cathedral within five years and even called for alternative contemporary proposals to reconstruct the church.
For a brief period, debates swirled over whether the French Government would sanction such an update instead of preserving Notre Dame’s original character.
However, the French Parliament soon passed a bill stipulating that reconstruction efforts must “preserve the historic, artistic and architectural interest” of the historic cathedral.
Mr Macron officially declared a year later, in 2020, that the reconstruction would seek to resemble the original structure in the interest of finishing the project ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Notre Dame Cathedral was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Its spire was first completed in the 13th century but was replaced in the 19th century due to damage.
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Notre Dame Bells Ring for the First Time Since Devastating Fire Five Years Ago (By Madalaine Elhabbal, National Catholic Register)
