Macron to Honour Craftspeople Behind Notre Dame’s Remarkable Restoration

PARIS, 15 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron is set to bestow national honours upon nearly 100 craftspeople, architects, and officials who played an instrumental role in the painstaking restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, nearly six years after the catastrophic fire that gutted the historic Parisian landmark.

In a symbolic ceremony at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday evening—timed to coincide with the hour the blaze broke out on 15 April 2019—President Macron will pay tribute to the individuals whose collective effort resurrected one of France’s most revered monuments.

Accompanied by Prime Minister François Bayrou and Culture Minister Rachida Dati, Macron will address the craftspeople and project leaders whose dedication and artistry brought Notre Dame back to life. Also present will be Jean-Claude Gallet, the former chief of the Paris Fire Brigade, who oversaw emergency efforts during the blaze.

“You have achieved what was thought impossible,” Macron had told workers during a visit to the cathedral in November last year, just ahead of its reopening on 7 December 2024.

According to the President’s team, Tuesday’s speech will again highlight France’s national pride in what has been a monumental architectural and cultural achievement. The restored cathedral now welcomes an average of 30,000 visitors daily.

Honours and Key Figures

Among the recipients of France’s top distinctions:

Additionally, nearly 100 individuals—civil servants, craftsmen, entrepreneurs—will receive the Legion of Honour or the National Order of Merit, recognising their craftsmanship and unwavering commitment.

A Testament to Traditional Craftsmanship

The restoration of Notre Dame involved over 2,000 professionals from across France, drawing on rare and ancient techniques. Craftspeople from all trades contributed:

Carpenters: Reconstructing the spire, nave, and choir using traditional oak timber methods

Ironworkers & Scaffolders: Reinforcing the structure for safe restoration

Rope Access Technicians: Working at dizzying heights to access difficult areas

Stained Glass Experts: Restoring centuries-old windows

Organ Builders: Repairing the iconic Grand Organ damaged by fire and smoke

Aymeric Albert, knighted today, meticulously selected oak trees from French forests for the spire’s reconstruction—an effort evoking techniques used in the cathedral’s original 12th and 13th-century construction.

Restoration by the Numbers

Legacy of the Restoration

Notre Dame de Paris—an architectural jewel of Gothic art and a UNESCO World Heritage site—has not only been structurally revived but spiritually and culturally resurrected as well. This restoration stands as a symbol of resilience, unity, and the enduring value of traditional European craftsmanship.

In the words of President Macron:

“This achievement is not just the reconstruction of stone and wood, but a reaffirmation of France’s soul.”