The devastating fire at Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019, reminded the world of the significance of humanity’s built heritage and inspired a resolute commitment to rebuild. The extraordinary project that restored the beloved French landmark in just five years marks a triumph in preservation and a renewed commitment to safeguarding our shared cultural heritage.

Following Notre-Dame’s reopening in December 2024, get a behind-the-scenes look at the revival of this icon of French medieval architecture with World Monuments Fund’s annual Paul Mellon Lecture on March 12, taking place this year as part of the organization’s 60th anniversary program.

Special guests will include Philippe Villeneuve, chief architect for historic monuments in France, including Notre-Dame de Paris; Barry Bergdoll, Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History and Archaeology professor of art history and archaeology at Columbia University; Bas Smets, landscape designer; and the Rev. Patrick Malloy, dean at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, in conversation with WMF President and CEO Bénédicte de Montlaur.

Co-presented by World Monuments Fund (WMF), the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the Columbia University Maison Française, this event will share insights from what has become the largest preservation project of the century and consider how sacred and historic sites around the world can learn from each other about preventing and rebuilding after a fire. It is part of a national lecture series presented by WMF with events in San Francisco, Palm Beach, and New York City. Explore upcoming events at wmf.org/events