France in one-year 'battle' to reopen Notre-Dame

Craftsmen and women from across France have contributed to Notre-Dame's revival. Photo: AFP

Workers at Paris's emblematic Notre-Dame cathedral have one year, starting on Friday, to finish restoring the gothic monument in time for its reopening following a monstrous fire in 2019.

Restoration of the Unesco-listed building, which usually welcomes some 12 million visitors each year, has hit several snags since people around the world watched in horror as its steeple crashed down in the blaze on April 15, 2019.