Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is on track to reopen following a major fire in 2019, with the return of its bells. A convoy of trucks carrying eight restored bells, the heaviest weighing over 4 tons, arrived at the work area surrounding the cathedral on Thursday. These bells will be blessed in a special ceremony inside the cathedral before being installed in its twin towers ahead of the Dec. 8 reopening to the public.

Cathedral Rector Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, donning a hardhat, expressed that the bells signify the cathedral’s resurgence and the revival of its voice. They symbolize a call to prayer and unity. The bells will undergo individual testing before their full ringing is showcased on the reopening day, according to Philippe Jost, who is supervising the extensive reconstruction project at Notre Dame. He described the bells’ arrival as a poignant symbol of the cathedral’s renewal.

Although Notre Dame’s construction began in the 12th century, the bronze bells damaged in the fire were modern, built in the 21st century while adhering to historical practices. They were crafted to replace older discordant bells as part of the monument’s 850th-anniversary celebrations. The cathedral’s roof and spire, destroyed in the fire, have been reconstructed, and the gradual removal of scaffolding from the site is underway.