Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron presided over a ceremony at the Élysée Palace on April 15, 2025, to honor 100 individuals who contributed to the Notre-Dame restoration with the Légion d’honneur and Ordre national du Mérite.
• The restoration, completed in a record five years after the 2019 fire, is celebrated as a testament to overcoming significant technical and logistical challenges.
• Macron invoked the 'spirit of Notre-Dame' as a symbol of national resilience and unity, expressing hope it will inspire future projects and collective efforts in France.
• The event highlighted France's cultural prominence, with Notre-Dame attracting 30,000 visitors daily since its reopening in December 2024.
• Controversy surrounds the selection process for honorees, with some workers expressing disappointment over being excluded from the recognition.