Notre Dame Cathedral attracts 12 million visitors yearly

It remains the most visited monument in France

PARIS, FRANCE – Notre Dame Cathedral, the Gothic masterpiece which went down in flames on Monday, April 15 will be missed by many visitors, who see the cathedral as a Mecca of a sort. Information available to us revealed that the cathedral plays host to at least 12 million visitors yearly.

“It is the place of great diocesan and national celebrations”, the Notre-Dame Cathedral said on its website. The Notre-Dame Cathedral is noted as one of the most famous symbols of the French capital, and the most visited monument in France , in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“The cathedral attracts 12 million faithful, pilgrims and visitors a year”, it added. But with the building gown down in flames, visitors who see the cathedral as one of the best destinations will have to wait for some five years before the building will be back based on calculation by French President, Emmanuel Macron.

According to him, Notre Dame Cathedral will be rebuilt and that it will be much better that the original building. “We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully and I want it to be finished within five years, and we can do it ” Macron said in a televised address and warned against building the cathedral in haste.

The unfortunate fire consumed almost everything in the cathedral. Speaking on the 12 hour inferno that ravaged the ancient Notre Dame Cathedral, Msgr. Patrick Chauvet said items so far salvaged remains the outer wall, twin bell towers, its famour pipe organ dating back to the 1730s and the Crown of Thorns. “Crown of Thorns – which tradition holds was worn by Jesus during his Passion – and the tunic believed to have been worn by St. Louis, the 13^th century king of France, were rescued from the flames”, he said.

Hundreds of fire fighters from France battled spiritedly to put out the fire but their efforts were to no avail. Investigators are currently examining all electrical components in the building to see if electrical fault was responsible for the inferno. But Public prosecutor, Remmy Heitz told reporters that there has been nothing to suggest it was an act of sabortage. However, many believe it is a conspiracy and have labelled the incident as an equivalent of the American 9/11.

In his response to the incident, Pope Francis wrote Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris, noting, “I join you in your sorrow, as well as that of the faithful of your diocese, the inhabitants of Paris, and all the French people.” He assured of his spiritual closeness and prayers.

“I recognize that it has also affected a national symbol dear to the hearts of Parisians and French people, in the diversity of their convictions”, he said, describing the Notre Dame cathedral as “an architectural jewel of a collective memory”, adding that it was “the location of many great events and a testimony to the faith and prayer of the city’s Catholics.

So far, over USD1 billion have been pledged as donation to rebuild the cathedral. Among the donors are two French billionaires who pledged a total of €200 million, while Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the city will donate €50 million Euros, while the government of the greater Paris region promised €10 million. The Hungarian city of Szeged also promised to donate €10,000 towards rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral.