Notre-Dame prepares to reopen five years after fire that nearly destroyed it

A discarded cigarette: what a perfectly French way to destroy centuries of French history. But Notre Dame was restored at staggering expense—the BBC reports €700m (about $750m) was spent—after the 2019 fire that toppled its famous spire. And it will soon re-open to the public.

The president – accompanied by his wife Brigitte and Archbishop of Paris Laure…