Notre Dame’s bells ring for first time after 5 years of silence since catastrophic fire

For the first time since the devastating fire of 2019, the eight bells of Notre Dame Cathedral rang in unison on Friday. The bells, housed in the northern belfry, were silenced after the fire ravaged the iconic landmark.
Five years of extensive efforts have brought the cathedral closer to its former glory. The fire’s damage to the northern belfry necessitated comprehensive restoration, including removal, cleaning and reinstallation of the bells.
The bells chimed individually before harmonising for roughly five minutes, marking as milestone moment ahead of the cathedral’s reopening, scheduled for next month. Philippe Jost, who oversees the restoration project, said, “This is a beautiful, important and symbolic step.”
The bells rang individually before joining in harmony for approximately five minutes. This test run precedes the official reopening ceremonies planned for December 7 and 8.
Alexandre Gougeon, responsible for the bells’ reinstallation, acknowledged: “It’s not perfect yet, but we will make it perfect.” He confirmed to AFP that the initial test was successful.
Guillaume Normand, the cathedral’s vice rector, expressed profound emotion upon hearing the bells’ chorus, noting: “It’s November 8 and Notre Dame is telling us: ‘I’m here, waiting for you’.”
The bells vary significantly in weight, from “Gabriel” at over four tonnes to “Jean-Marie” at 800 kilogrammes.
The cathedral’s reopening celebrations are scheduled for December 7 and 8. Whilst specific programme details remain unpublished, Jost informed RTL that performances would feature “great artists of international standing.”
Reports suggest Paul McCartney, who has Paris concerts scheduled for December 4 and 5, might participate in the reopening festivities.
Post-reopening, Notre Dame anticipates 14 to 15 million annual visitors, an increase from 12 million in 2017.
The catastrophic fire in April 2019, shocked both Parisians and global onlookers as the UNESCO heritage site was engulfed in flames, resulting in the collapse of its iconic spire.
President Emmanuel Macron had established a five-year timeline for reconstruction, aiming to restore the cathedral to surpass its former glory.