The world is getting its first look at Notre Dame’s new interior five years after the devastating fire

While part of the cathedral, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, remained undamaged, nearly $1 billion in pledged donations were made within a day of the fire.

The reconstruction of Notre Dame de Paris, the public body responsible for preserving and restoring the cathedral, estimated at the time that it would cost $760 million.

Work on the medieval monument, which has been immortalized in history, film and literature, began quickly as teams of specialist craftsmen flew in from around the world to help.

Louise Bausiere, who has spent the last two years working on the cathedral’s rogue, told NBC News on Wednesday that she hoped people would admire what the team of craftsmen had done.

“It was hard to do it in five years,” she said. “We had to do it, there was no choice.”

The team “took photos, looked at archives and did the exact same thing,” she said. “The techniques, the look, the aesthetics, everything is exactly the same.”

It’s “easier today because of technology,” she added.

Macron’s visit comes at a time of political unrest in France over Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s plans for a budget that includes 60 billion euros ($62 billion) in spending cuts and tax increases, despite lack of a majority in parliament Threats to overthrow the government from afar – right-wing leader Marine Le Pen.

And his government welcomes the reconstruction as a symbol of national unity and French performance.

Since the cathedral’s foundation stone was laid in the 12th century, the cathedral has undergone many revivals.

The coronation of Napoleon I and his wife, Empress Joséphine, took place here in 1804, and on August 24, 1944, the huge bells rang to celebrate the liberation of Paris from the German occupiers.

The stone gargoyles and religious relics attracted crowds of pilgrims for centuries.

Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel Notre-Dame de Paris, known to many as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, not only immortalized the cathedral’s history but also inspired a major restoration of the site.

After the modern restoration, Macron will return on December 7th to give a speech and attend the consecration of the new altar at a solemn mass the following day.