Paris, France stands as a city with a remarkable architectural wonder at its heart - Notre Dame. However, the sight of scaffolding still clinging to its exterior has left some Parisians puzzled. One Paris resident, gesturing toward a crane, voiced a common sentiment: "What’s the point of such a big reopening when it’s not even finished?" It truly does look like a construction zone.

The Symbolism vs. Substance Dilemma

The bells of Notre Dame are chiming again, a sign of its return. But the presence of scaffolding on the nearly 900-year-old monument raises questions about the grand post-blaze reopening. French President Emmanuel Macron will inspect the rebuilding work on Friday during his final tour of the construction site. He will get to see the renovated interiors with his own eyes, but he can't ignore the construction work and cranes that clutter the exterior.The 2019 blaze that destroyed the spire and roof was a tragic event. Macron pledged to rebuild the cathedral to be even more beautiful and complete it within five years. But the reality has been more complex. While the interior will be ready to host visitors on December 8 for the first time since 2019, the scaffolding at the base of the newly-restored spire will remain into 2025, and for another three years on the east side.Unfinished exterior puzzles some Parisians. The blaze and rebuilding left a literal hole in the heart of Paris, and many locals are longing for its reopening. Some expected the monument to look pristine on the outside like it does on the inside. Around 140 million euros of unspent funds remain in the reconstruction budget, indicating the scale of work still to be completed. Cranes and makeshift worker facilities still feature, and while a lot of scaffolding has been removed, tons of it still remain. Anne Leclerc, a 54-year-old lawyer, said, "It’s an eyesore. It feels like a half-finished project."Jean-Baptiste Lefèvre, a retired 65-year-old teacher, recalled Macron's five-year completion wish and questioned whether the reopening is being rushed prematurely to please him. Macron's second and last term ends in 2027. He said, "What’s the point of such a big reopening when it’s not even finished? It looks like a construction zone."

The Long History of Construction

In truth, Notre Dame has been a building site for years even before the fire. In 2019, scaffolding was already in place for a previous restoration effort that was interrupted by the blaze. The melted and twisted metal structure had to be cut away before rebuilding could begin.The worst damage was to the medieval monument's roof and its dense latticework of wooden beams, which was so complicated that it was nicknamed "the forest." The flames also brought down the spire, sending charred debris into the cathedral's interior.Architecture experts praise the pace of restoration, considering the constraints of 21st-century safety regulations and the need for historical accuracy. Historians also urge patience, reminding critics that Notre Dame's original construction spanned nearly 200 years, beginning in 1163. Rev. Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, the cathedral rector, said, "Notre Dame’s reconstruction is a sign of hope for everyone."

The Impact of the COVID Pandemic

Initial hopes for a full restoration by 2024 were dimmed after the COVID-19 pandemic slowed work. The late General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former reconstruction chief, tempered expectations in 2023, saying the reopening would be "partial."Macron's office frames the restoration as a triumph for French can-do, comparing it to other national milestones like the Paris Olympics. His tour of the monument on Friday will be his seventh since the fire.Presidential officials say he will see gleaming white finishes of restored stonework, vaults rebuilt with precision to their original 13th-century design, and the once-again radiant golden cross at the altar. Murals, including those in the Saint-Marcel Chapel, are as vibrantly colorful again as when first painted, and sculptures of Louis XIII and XIV glisten with refreshed colors.

The Grand Reopening

After a December 7 ceremony where Macron will give a speech on the cathedral forecourt, an inaugural mass the next day will signal its return to public life. The public will be welcomed until 10 p.m. during the first week with free, ticketed entry. Liturgical life will then resume in full from December 16.The Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, expects Notre Dame will quickly surpass its pre-blaze visitor numbers. He is confident that for most, the work that's unfinished won't be a major disappointment.