Notre Dame’s renovation is proceeding smoothly enough to allow it to reopen in late 2024 as planned, less than 6 years after a fire destroyed its roof.

The authorities decided to restore the masterpiece of Gothic art of the XII century as it was before. This includes the re-creation of the 96-meter bell tower from the 19th century, designed by Essen architect Violette Le Duc.

The iconic spire that collapsed will be gradually raised above the Parisian monument this year as a symbol of rebirth, military officer Jean-Louis Zorzelin, the head of the colossal project, said. “The return of this arrow to the sky of Paris will, in my opinion, be a symbol of our victory at the Battle of Notre Dame,” he said.

Reconstruction began last year, after two years of preparatory work aimed at making the monument stable enough for craftsmen to safely get to work.

General Zorzelen said Notre Dame would be brought into line with the target set by President Macron immediately after the fire, but with a delay in time for the Summer 2024 Olympics.

Meanwhile, an exhibition titled “Notre-Dame de Paris: in the middle of a construction site”, housed in an underground room across from the cathedral, has just opened to the public.

Open to the public, it highlights works in progress and the experience and skills of the workers and craftsmen working on the restoration, as well as showcasing some of the artwork that survived the fire. In addition to free admission, a virtual reality show will allow paying visitors to immerse themselves in the history of the cathedral.

However, Rima Culture Minister Abdul-Malak clarified to The Associated Press that the renovations would not be completed in 2024, adding that “there will be more renovations in 2025.” Around a thousand people work every day in the capital and across France to rebuild Notre Dame, General Jean-Louis Sorglen said.