Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral’s Plaza and Crypt in Paris

After the tragic fire that severely damaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France in April 2019, many people have assumed that visiting the historic church was probably off the table for the next few years. This assumption was particularly reinforced considering complications like the stifling heatwave and the difficulty of the repairs.

However, it seems that Paris’ deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire is hopeful that the plaza around the cathedral could be open to the public within the first half of this year, according to The New York Times.

Safety Measures for Reopening

In order to open the plaza to the public, several steps need to be taken to ensure visitor safety. Primarily, traces of lead and rubble must be cleaned from the area. When the fire occurred, approximately 440 metric tonnes (about 394 Imperial tons) melted off the cathedral’s 850-year-old roof, as reported by Lonely Planet. This incident raised numerous concerns regarding air quality and toxicity, with lead levels on-site reported to be 1,300 times higher than French safety guidelines. While most of the lead has been cleaned, some traces still remain.

Potential Opening of the Crypt

If the clean-up is executed properly, a famous crypt located under the plaza may also be able to open as early as March, according to Paris deputy mayor Karen Taïeb. Taïeb stated that regular tests for lead have been conducted by the city’s government.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Camille Courbis of Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris and Crypte Archéologique mentioned that if everything goes smoothly, a new exhibition, dedicated as a tribute to Notre Dame, will open alongside the reopening of the crypt. “For now, we do not know the precise date. The crypt will reopen as soon as the clean-up operation concludes and the site is deemed safe,” Courbis stated.

Future of Notre Dame Cathedral

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Notre Dame Cathedral would be open again within five years, however, complete restoration may extend beyond that timeline.

Regarding the plaza and crypt, the city’s government hopes to have the area reopened sometime in Spring 2020.