"In this period when we are coming out of the Covid and the war in Europe, it is also a testimony of hope, it makes a lot of sense", estimated the Head of State, while also welcoming a "parenthesis" in his electoral campaign.
He was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron.
During this visit of almost two hours, the President of the Republic exchanged with companions of the companies which took part in the construction site, in particular stonemasons.
"I find that there is extraordinary progress", he welcomed, congratulating those who "work day and night" and thanking "all the teams, companies, craftsmen, trades who are associates as well as all the French producers, whether stone or wood, therefore trees, which are mobilized in intimacy with the diocese of Paris".
Emmanuel Macron also reaffirmed that the objective of returning the cathedral in five years will be met, i.e. in 2024, "which does not exclude that certain works may continue after the reopening", specified his entourage.
President-candidate Emmanuel Macron (d), his wife Brigitte Macron (2nd g) on the Notre-Dame site, April 15, 2022 in Paris Ian LANGSDON POOL / AFP
It will be reopened "for worship and visits, and pilgrims and visitors will find Notre-Dame more beautiful than ever since it will have regained its original colors and brilliance", insisted the Head of State again.
Three years after the fire that devastated it, Notre-Dame de Paris has regained its original whiteness thanks to the daily work of an army of craftsmen in the heart of a forest of scaffolding.
In the middle of Holy Week, Notre-Dame, 850 years old, is plunged into a deep sleep for a large-scale surgical operation on the banks of the Seine, where it welcomed 12 million visitors each year before the fire.
© 2022 AFP