Notre Dame finally stable enough to begin reconstruction two years after blaze

Notre Dame Cathedral is finally stable enough for artisans to begin restoring the famous landmark back to its former glory more than two years after a fire ripped through its attic.

When the devastating blaze tore through the Paris cathedral in April 2019, the roof caved in causing its historic spire to come crashing down - leaving the building just minutes from complete collapse.

But the French government agency overseeing its reconstruction announced in a statement on Saturday that work to secure the structure – which began the day after the fire on April 15, 2019 – is finally complete.

The church is now filled with a lattice of scaffolding and braces - prepared for reconstruction by skilled artisans to begin.

Carpenters, scaffolding experts, professional climbers and organ mechanics have used special temporary structures to secure the towers, vaults and walls of the huge roofless structure, and a special “umbrella” to protect it from the weather.

Negotiations will now begin with companies bidding to take part in the mammoth reconstruction effort, the statement said, including some 100 tenders for various projects.

Work to restore the organ will begin in the autumn, with other works expected to begin later in the winter.

The agency is hoping to achieve President Emmanuel Macron’s goal of allowing visitors back inside in 2024 - in time for Paris to host the Olympics.

The announcement was made on a weekend that France and countries across Europe celebrate Heritage Days, when historical landmarks, government buildings and other sites are opened to the public.