Notre Dame primps for its grand post-blaze return. But why does the cathedral look unfinished?
Associated PressPARIS — The bells of Notre Dame are chiming again, but scaffolding still clinging to the cathedral’s exterior is puzzling some Parisians, who question whether its grand post-blaze reopening is more symbolic than substantive. “It feels like a half-finished project.” Jean-Baptiste Lefèvre, a retired 65-year-old teacher, recalled Macron’s five-year completion wish, and questioned whether the reopening is being rushed prematurely to please him. Historians also urge patience, reminding critics that Notre Dame’s original construction spanned nearly 200 years, beginning in 1163. The late General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former reconstruction chief, tempered expectations in 2023, saying the reopening would be “partial.” Macron’s office frames the restoration as a triumph for French can-do, likening it to other national milestones such as the Paris Olympics.