French President Emmanuel Macron inspected the newly restored interior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Friday, praising the efforts of the reconstruction teams for accomplishing what was thought impossible: repairing the catastrophic damage from the 2019 fire.

The famous 850-year-old Gothic cathedral, which suffered extensive damage on April 19, 2019, is set to reopen on December 7 after a meticulous restoration process involving 250 companies and hundreds of experts.

The reconstruction, costing nearly 700 million euros, was financed by donations totaling 846 million euros from 150 countries.

The French President conducted his live-televised inspection eight days before the reopening, expressing pride and hope that the restoration symbolizes national resilience.

Macron's visit included a tour of key areas such as the nave, choir, and chapel, where he admired the pale-coloured stones and restored stained glass windows.

The restored cathedral, with its iconic 19th-century spire rebuilt to original specifications, is expected to attract even more visitors than the 12 million it drew in 2017.

Despite suggestions from French ministers to institute an entry fee, the Paris diocese maintains that free admission is vital.

Macron's aspirations for Pope Francis to attend the reopening were thwarted, as the pontiff will instead visit Corsica.

The reopening ceremony will be held in the forecourt due to France's strict secular policies separating church and state.

The following day will feature the first mass and consecration of the new altar.

Meanwhile, investigations into the fire's cause remain ongoing, with preliminary findings indicating an accidental origin.