As Nantes’ and Notre Dame’s cathedrals reclaim their place in the French skyline, both embody France’s unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural and spiritual heritage
Newsroom (30/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) After five years of restoration following a devastating arson attack in 2020, the northwestern French city of Nantes celebrated the reopening of its Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on Sept. 27, 2025. The ceremony, attended by local and state officials, culminated in a breathtaking display of ballet dancers performing in the cathedral’s square, symbolizing renewal and hope.
Bishop Laurent Percerou, presiding over the first Mass alongside numerous bishops and Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio to France, praised the “authentic beauty” achieved through the tireless efforts of architects, masons, stonemasons, and electricians. “The cathedral, still convalescing but standing firm, is ready to reclaim its rightful place in the city,” Percerou declared.
The reopening was bittersweet for Mayor Johanna Rolland, who described the day as one of “happiness and reunion” tempered by the memory of the 2020 arson. The fire, set by a 39-year-old Rwandan asylum seeker facing deportation, destroyed the cathedral’s historic 1621 organ, which had survived the French Revolution and World War II, along with priceless artifacts, including a 19th-century painting by Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin and 16th-century stained glass fragments. The perpetrator was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2023.
The French government invested over $42 million in the restoration, a commitment outgoing Culture Minister Rachida Dati called a testament to the nation’s dedication to its heritage. “The cathedral is a place of faith, memory, culture, and a landmark—a legacy of the past and, here, a symbol of resilience,” she said during the ceremony, as reported by Ouest France. Firefighters, lauded for containing the blaze within two hours and preserving the cathedral’s main structure, were also honored.
Constructed over centuries, from 1434 to 1891, the Nantes cathedral has endured multiple trials, including a 1972 fire that necessitated concrete reinforcements during roof repairs. Though scaffolding still surrounds parts of the structure, the cathedral stands as a beacon of endurance.
Notre Dame’s Towers Reopen, Marrying Tradition with Modernity
In Paris, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral marked a milestone in its restoration journey with the reopening of its towers on Sept. 19, 2025, just ahead of France’s annual Heritage Days. President Emmanuel Macron, joined by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, rector Father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, and chief architect Philippe Jost, inaugurated the restored towers, which now welcome visitors for the first time since the catastrophic 2019 fire.
The towers, built in the 13th century, narrowly escaped collapse during the blaze, which began in the north tower’s belfry. The 65-foot wooden structure supporting the bells risked bringing down the cathedral’s facade, but heroic firefighting efforts averted disaster. The revamped tour route blends medieval authenticity with modern enhancements, featuring a stone spiral staircase from the Middle Ages and a new 178-step oak staircase designed by chief architect Philippe Villeneuve. The design ensures seamless visitor flow, allowing ascents and descents without crossing paths.
The 424-step climb to the 226-foot-high towers offers glimpses of history, with modern audio and lighting systems illuminating key moments, such as General Charles de Gaulle’s 1944 arrival after the German surrender in Paris. Visitors can marvel at the cathedral’s largest bells, known as “bourdons,” in the south tower, explore the “courtyard of the cisterns”—a terrace once home to rainwater collectors—and admire the restored oak framework above the nave, adorned with chimeras and gargoyles designed by 19th-century architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, immortalized in Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris.
Unlike the cathedral’s main worship space, which welcomes 30,000 visitors daily free of charge, the towers require an admission fee due to limited space, accommodating 400,000 visitors annually. The restoration, a delicate balance of tradition and subtle modernity, reaffirms Notre Dame’s status as Paris’s crown jewel.
A Shared Legacy of Renewal
As Nantes’ cathedral emerges from its scaffolding and Notre Dame’s towers reclaim their place in the Parisian skyline, both landmarks embody France’s unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural and spiritual heritage. These reopenings, marked by communal celebration and reflection, signal not only the restoration of sacred spaces but also the enduring spirit of a nation.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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