Notre-Dame Reopens: Photos

Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening this weekend, more than five years after a devastating fire.

The 2019 blaze significantly damaged the Gothic medieval cathedral, including its wood and lead roofing and its famed spire.

The restoration cost hundreds of millions of dollars and involved about 2,000 workers and artisans, including carpenters, stonecutters and gold-leaf decorators.

Now, a centuries-old cornerstone of European culture and faith is reborn.

Heads of state, religious leaders and other dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremonies surrounding Notre-Dame’s reopening, beginning on Saturday.

Later, the renovated cathedral will open its doors to the public, an emotional moment for one of the world’s most recognizable monuments.

People from all over the world have been eagerly awaiting this celebration, which comes as France is mired in political turmoil.

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Here’s a selection of photographs leading up to and during the reopening weekend.

Tight security is planned for the area around Notre-Dame, where police officers, journalists and others gathered on Saturday before the reopening.

Excitement has been building, including on Friday night, when the cathedral was lit up.

Visitors flocked to the monument on Friday in anticipation of the reopening.

Preparations were underway in Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame well before the weekend.