The restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is entering its final major phase. The public body in charge of rebuilding the cathedral has announced a new works program that will run from 2027 to 2033 and will allow the definitive completion of the monument’s recovery after the devastating fire of 2019.
According to Tribune Chrétienne, this new phase will cost 150 million euros, of which around 20 million are already available. Project leaders have issued a new appeal for patronage and donations to raise the remaining 130 million euros.
The restoration of the great stained-glass window and other historic elements
Philippe Jost, president of the public body Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, explained that the goal is to complete the restoration of elements that could not be addressed during the works that enabled the cathedral to reopen for worship in December 2024.
Among the most important interventions is the full restoration of the great western rose window, one of the jewels of the 13th century, which has not undergone a complete intervention since the restoration led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.
The program also includes the recovery of the north transept façades, several medieval sculptures, and other architectural elements particularly affected by the passage of time.
Beyond reconstruction after the fire
The reopening of Notre-Dame in December 2024 marked a milestone by returning the cathedral to worship and to the millions of pilgrims and visitors who come to the church each year. However, that phase did not mark the end of the works.
Officials recall that many parts of the building already had significant conservation needs even before the fire of April 15, 2019. Therefore, this new campaign will not be limited to repairing the damage caused by the fire, but will also allow the restoration of historic elements whose intervention had been pending.
A new appeal to generosity
The success of the first international donation campaign made it possible to finance the cathedral’s reconstruction and meet the goal of reopening the church within five years.
Now, the responsible body hopes that individuals, companies, and organizations will once again support the project to raise the 130 million euros needed to complete the restoration definitively.
Beyond its extraordinary artistic and heritage value, Notre-Dame remains a living cathedral, where the Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and other religious celebrations are held daily. With this final phase of works, France aims to ensure the preservation of one of the main symbols of European Christianity for future generations.
This new restoration program does not, for the moment, alter the controversial project promoted by President Emmanuel Macron to replace six 19th-century stained-glass windows, designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, with new contemporary windows by artist Claire Tabouret. The initiative remains pending several legal appeals filed by heritage defense associations, which argue that the current pieces survived the 2019 fire intact and should not be replaced.