Eight bronze bells, known as the “voice” of Notre-Dame Cathedral, have returned to Paris after being temporarily removed in July 2023 to allow restoration work to continue. The bells were blessed in a special ceremony inside the cathedral, marking a significant milestone as the Gothic landmark prepares to reopen after the devastating 2019 fire .
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Cathedral Rector Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said the bells are a sign that Notre-Dame will once again resonate, symbolizing a call to prayer and unity. The bells, which were originally in the cathedral’s northern belfry, will be reinstalled in the coming weeks. Philippe Jost, the head of the public body overseeing the project, confirmed this ahead of the cathedral’s scheduled reopening on December 8 .
Originally cast in 2013, the bells were cleaned and restored at a foundry in Normandy. Ranging in size, the heaviest bell, “Gabriel,” weighs over four tons, while the smallest, “Jean-Marie,” weighs 782 kilos. Paul Bergamo, head of the Cornille-Havard foundry, explained that most of the work involved cleaning lead dust caused by the fire, with “Marcel” and “Gabriel” receiving extra attention, including a freshening up of their gold leaf.
The bells will be tested individually before they are ready to ring in full on the day of the reopening, which Jost described as a beautiful symbol of the cathedral’s rebirth .
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