Notre-Dame cathedral belfry bells ring for first time since 2019 fire
‘It's a wonderful, important and symbolic step,’ says the head of the restoration project
The bells in the north belfry of Notre-Dame had to be removed, cleaned and restored after the 2019 fireAlessio Catelli / Kirill Neiezhmakov / Shutterstock
The eight bells of the north belfry tower at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris have rung together for the first time since the fire that devastated the iconic landmark in April 2019.
The bells sounded on Friday, November 8, at 10:30, one month before the building reopens to the public.
Three of the bells - including the Olympic Games bell, which was rung by French gold medallists in the Stade de France stadium during the Games - were inaugurated officially on November 7.
The sound of all eight ringing together was hailed as a symbolic and powerful moment, coming more than five years after the fire that ravaged the cathedral. Each began to ring individually, building up to all eight in harmony.
"It is a wonderful, important and symbolic step,” said Philippe Jost, head of the public body responsible for restoring the cathedral, Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris, to Le Figaro.
“It is a great achievement,” said Alexandre Gougeon, project manager for the bells’ re-installation project, to RFI.
“Individual tests, bell by bell, were carried out yesterday, and further adjustments will be made in the coming days,” he said. “Not everything is perfect yet. We're going to fine-tune it to perfection.”
The devastating fire of April 15, 2019 reached part of the north belfry, requiring the bells there to be removed, cleaned, and restored before being re-installed. They were first re-installed in September, during a small ceremony, when they were blessed.
All of the bells are named after people who are significant to the history of the diocese and the cathedral: a tradition that has been in place since the 12th century.
In the north belfry, the largest is called Gabriel, which weighs over four tonnes. The smallest is Jean-Marie, which weighs around 800 kg. The latter is named in tribute to Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris from 1981 to 2005.
Welcome ceremony
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Monseigneur Olivier Ribadeau Dumas and head of the Olympic Organising Committee Tony EstanguetAlphacit Newim Reporter / Shutterstock
On Thursday November 7, the bells were welcomed back in a ceremony attended by Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector of Notre-Dame cathedral; and by Tony Estanguet, the chairman of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee.
The Organising Committee donated the bell that was present at the Stade de France this summer.
When fully operational, Notre-Dame has a total of 21 bronze bells. They ring to call the faithful to service, but also to tell Parisians the time. The largest of them is located in the south tower. Called Emmanuel, it was cast in 1683.
