WATCH Notre Dame Reborn: First Look Before December 2024 Reopening

After more than five years of extensive restoration following the devastating fire in April 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen its doors to the public on December 7, 2024.

Ahead of the highly anticipated reopening, French President Emmanuel Macron will offer the world a first official glimpse of the cathedral's interior on Friday, November 29.

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The inspection, broadcast live on television, will showcase the impressive progress made in restoring the 850-year-old Gothic landmark. The fire that tore through Notre Dame on April 19, 2019, caused significant damage to the iconic structure, including the destruction of its spire.

In response, President Macron set a bold goal to restore the cathedral within five years and make it "even more beautiful" than before. Authorities in France assert that the restoration has met that ambitious target, with the cathedral now ready to welcome back worshippers and visitors alike.

The restoration of Notre Dame has been dubbed the "building site of the century," with hundreds of experts and 250 companies mobilized to restore the cathedral to its former glory. The project, which cost nearly 700 million euros (about $750 million), was funded through an outpouring of donations from around the globe, totalling 846 million euros. Some 2,000 people contributed to the restoration effort, with at least 1,300 of them expected to attend the inspection on Friday.

President Macron will tour key areas of the cathedral, including the nave, choir, and chapel, while meeting with workers involved in the restoration. The restoration has brought the 19th-century gothic spire back to life with an exact replica of the original, restored stained glass windows, and walls cleansed of fire stains. The cathedral's organ, a critical feature of its grandeur, is also fully restored and ready to play again.

In addition to restoring the visible elements, a discreet fire protection system has been installed to ensure future safety. This system includes pipes that can release millions of water droplets in case of another disaster. Notre Dame, which once drew 12 million visitors annually, is now expected to attract 14 to 15 million visitors following its reopening.

In a highly unusual move, President Macron is scheduled to address the congregation during a ceremony marking the reopening on December 7. The speech, which will take place inside the cathedral, is rare due to France's secular constitution, which maintains a strict separation between church and state. Following the address, the first mass will take place on December 8, which will also include the consecration of the newly restored altar.

Though world leaders are expected to attend, Pope Francis will not be present at the reopening. Instead, the Pope will be visiting the French island of Corsica the following weekend. Despite the absence of the Pope, the event is expected to be a momentous occasion, marking the return of one of the world's most beloved religious landmarks to its full glory.

The investigation into the cause of the 2019 fire is still ongoing, with initial findings pointing to an accidental origin, possibly linked to a short circuit, a welder's torch, or a cigarette. However, with the restoration completed, Notre Dame is set to once again stand as a symbol of resilience and cultural heritage for generations to come.