Reuniting with Notre-Dame : The Reopening Ceremonies of Notre-Dame de Paris.

CONTEXT

After five years of work following the fire on 15 April 2019, Publicis France's two agencies worked closely with the stakeholders involved in this unique event, first and foremost the Diocese of Paris and the Public Establishment "Rebâtir Notre-Dame” (Rebuild Notre-Dame).

The agency poured all of its creativity and expertise into the reopening of the Cathedral, to make this a moment of unforgettable celebration and universal communion, transcending denominations, generations and borders.

KEY EVENTS

Installation of TV and Radio media platforms on the Cathedral forecourt, allowing coverage of the event on France Télévisions channels and on-site broadcasting for many TV shows.

The republican and liturgical ceremony on Saturday 7 December was attended by 2,500 guests, including some forty heads of state and government; protocol coordinated with the Élysée Palace.

Tribute was paid to the 160 firefighters who saved the cathedral from the flames and the 250 builders who brought it back to life.

A televised artistic show, featuring French and international artists, was broadcast live around the world on prime-time television.

Closing ceremonies with an electro and video mapping show, designed with Monumental Tour, for an exceptional encounter between electronic music and France’s rich heritage.

Sunday 8 December saw the first two Masses celebrated in the renovated cathedral (with protocol and security arrangements for the media), and the return of the general public to Notre-Dame for the first time since 2019.

RESULTS :

• More than 450 accredited journalists
• 200 media (French and international) present and more than 10,000 articles
• 9,000 online articles
• 1.3 million mentions on social networks over the weekends of 7 and 8 December
• The ceremony on 7 December was broadcast live worldwide, attracting 19 million viewers in France, with a peak of 8 million, and was shown in over 100 countries