On 15 April 2019 a fire tore through the roof of Notre‑Dame, toppling its iconic spire and threatening the 860‑year‑old landmark that crowns Paris’s Île de la Cité — a sight that had survived three centuries of wars and revolutions. The blaze left the stone structure largely intact but gutted the timber roof, causing the spire to collapse and sending thick smoke into the Seine. Friends of Notre‑Dame de Paris reported that emergency crews fought to contain the flames while the cathedral’s principal features survived.
In the wake of the disaster, a coalition of private donors stepped forward. François‑Henri Pinault, married to actress Salma Hayek and chief executive of Kering, announced that he and his father had released €100 million from their Artemis holding company to support the reconstruction. "My father François Pinault and I have decided to release a sum of €100 million from our Artemis funds to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre‑Dame," Pinault said, according to a New York Post report. The donation positioned the Pinault family among the most prominent backers, alongside the Arnaults of LVMH and the Bettencourt‑Meyers family.
The restoration required a delicate blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering. Specialists dismantled the charred roof, removed damaged timber, and rebuilt the spire to the 19th‑century design of Eugène Viollet‑le‑Duc. The overall project cost hovered around €1.5 billion, with public and private funds covering the burden. President Emmanuel Macron had promised a five‑year completion, a target that guided the fundraising and construction schedule.
On 7 December 2024, after five years and seven months of work, Notre‑Dame reopened. The ceremony drew more than 1,500 guests, including world leaders, religious figures, and the couple Salma Hayek and François‑Henri Pinault. Inside, visitors could see restored stained‑glass windows, conserved stonework, and a new spire that reclaimed its familiar silhouette against the Paris sky.
The cathedral is now open to the public for worship and tourism, marking a historic restoration that blends heritage and philanthropy.