Exactly five years ago, the world watched in horror as Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral was ravaged by flames. Today, carpenters and artisans are hammering away to meet a December 8 deadline for the Gothic landmark's grand reopening. Spectators attending the Paris Olympics this summer will already be able to admire the renovated structure from the outside. Meanwhile, life has resumed on the Île de la Cité, the island that's home to Notre-Dame in the historical heart of the French capital. The square in front of the cathedral and its surroundings are even set for a makeover. FRANCE 24's team went to meet local residents.

Report by Julie Chouteau, Georges Yazbeck, Sonia Baritello, Jonathan Walsh and Aurore Cloé Dupuis

Drone footage: Skunati Laurent Doumas

Editing: Gilles and Joël

Chief editor: Stéphanie Cheval