France to restore Notre-Dame as it was before fire
Notre-Dame Cathedral is set to be rebuilt as it was before it was engulfed by flames last year, so says the public body in charge of its restoration.
The blaze on April 15, 2019 gutted the Gothic landmark and major tourist attraction - destroying the spire and the roof in a disaster that stunned the nation.
A national heritage and architectural commission approved plans to restore the cathedral to its last "complete, coherent and known" state, including the spire, the restoration body said in a statement.
President Emmanuel Macron promised after the fire to rebuild Notre-Dame within five years.
And later suggested that a more modern design could be used for the spire.
Church officials hope Notre-Dame will be open for mass by 2024 when Paris is due to host the Olympic Games.
