This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Published on December 21, 2019, Paris's iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral has been closed for Christmas for the first time in two centuries.
The decision to cancel the traditional midnight mass, which has been held at the cathedral since the 18th century, was made by rector Patrick Chauvet.
Instead, the mass will be held at the nearby church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois.
Notre-Dame, a symbol of Paris and French culture, was ravaged by a devastating fire on April 15, losing its gothic spire, roof, and many precious artefacts.
The cathedral has remained open for Christmas through two centuries of often tumultuous history, including the Nazi occupation in World War II.
However, it was forced to close during the anti-Catholic revolutionary period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
President Emmanuel Macron has set a five-year timetable to completely repair the eight-centuries-old structure, which remains shrouded in scaffolding with a vast crane looming over it.
Paris prosecutors suspect criminal negligence and opened an investigation in June, suggesting a stray cigarette butt or an electrical fault could be the culprit.
Almost €1 billion has been pledged or raised for the reconstruction, according to the culture ministry.
