Notre-Dame cathedral is one of the most important symbols of Paris, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.
This masterpiece of Gothic architecture towers majestically over the Ile de la Cité with its unmistakable silhouette, as if to remind us that this was once the Catholic heart of Paris.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral was hit by a disastrous fire in 2019 that severely damaged the structure, destroying the roof and spire of Europe’s most important cathedral.
Fortunately, after five years of restoration, the Cathedral was once again opened to the public on 8 December 2024, once again becoming one of the must-see attractions when visiting Paris.
It is possible to visit Notre Dame Cathedral free of charge; to do so, we recommend that you book your visit. Reservations for free access to Notre Dame Cathedral can be made from 3 days before the date of entry up to the same day directly on the official website.
It is not compulsory to book online to gain access to Notre Dame, however, reservation is strongly recommended as it allows priority and guaranteed access. It is also possible to come directly on site but you risk queues of up to 2 hours without a reservation.
Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 7:50 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (until 10:00 p.m. on Thursday) and Saturday and Sunday from 8:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Calculate a minimum of 2 hours for a complete visit.
Today it is possible to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in a totally new way. First of all because in its long history, more than 860 years, the church had never been completely restored and the work following the fire in 2019 restored the building to a brightness that had been lost over the years.
In fact, the cathedral has been cleaned of the dirt accumulated over the centuries and the cathedral’s limestone has shone again, enhanced by a new lighting system. Everything has been restored or cleaned, from the frescoes to the chequered floor and even the bells of the bell tower.
The iconic twin towers, which miraculously survived the fire, have been completely restored, retaining their original Gothic beauty. The new spire, reconstructed faithfully following Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century design, rises again towards the Parisian sky, reaching a height of 96 metres.
The roof was reconstructed using over 1,000 hundred-year-old oaks selected from French forests, scrupulously respecting medieval construction techniques. Each beam was cut and positioned following the same methods used by 13th-century carpenters.
The main portal and its famous side portals were carefully cleaned and restored, revealing sculptural details that had been obscured by centuries of pollution. The statues of the kings of Judea on the western façade, which also survived the fire, now shine in new splendour after careful cleaning and conservation work. The gargouilles were all checked and, where necessary, reinforced to continue their function of protecting the structure from rainwater.
The nave underwent major restoration work that required millimetric precision. The Gothic vaults, partially collapsed during the fire, were reconstructed using traditional techniques and materials compatible with the original ones. The rampant arches were reinforced to ensure the stability of the structure for centuries to come.
The large organ, comprising almost 8,000 pipes, was completely dismantled, cleaned and restored to remove toxic residues from the fire. Every single pipe was checked and tuned to restore the extraordinary sound that has characterised the cathedral for centuries. The restoration also included updating the electronic control system, while keeping the historic mechanism intact.
The stained glass windows, masterpieces of medieval art, were preserved and carefully restored. Every single piece of glass was catalogued, cleaned and, where necessary, supplemented with new material created according to 13th century techniques. Damaged stained glass windows were repaired using traditional techniques and, where necessary, recreated following the original designs. The result is a spectacle of light and colour that transforms the interior of the cathedral throughout the day.
A new museum area houses the cathedral treasure, a collection of sacred objects of inestimable historical and artistic value. These include the Crown of Thorns, miraculously saved during the fire, and numerous other reliquaries and liturgical objects that tell the thousand-year history of Notre-Dame.
Alongside the historical treasures, new works by contemporary artists have been added. The design of the baptismal font, altar and cathedra was entrusted to designer Guillaume Bardet and made of bronze. The new chairs, on the other hand, were designed by Ionna Vautrin and are made of oak.
Notre-Dame Cathedral is located in the centre of Paris and represents an important piece of French history. In fact, the cathedral is not only a masterpiece of Gothic art, but also fits into the historical and religious context of the great European cathedrals such as Milan Cathedral or Westminster in London.
The construction of Notre-Dame Cathedral began in 1163, during the reign of Louis VII and at the behest of Bishop Maurice de Sully. The first architect, whose name remains unknown, designed a revolutionary cathedral that would incorporate the latest innovations of Gothic architecture. The foundation stone was laid by Pope Alexander III. Construction proceeded in several stages: initially, between 1163 and 1182, the choir andaltar were built. Over the next eight years, the nave was completed, while the west façade and towers were worked on between 1190 and 1225. The side chapels were added between 1225 and 1250, and finally, between 1250 and 1345, the towers were completed and the final architectural changes were made.
During this period, the cathedral became the centre of religious and cultural life in Paris. It witnessed crucial historical events, such as the coronation of Henry VI of England as King of France in 1431. The cathedral hosted numerous religious processions and royal celebrations, and it was during this period that the first large organ was installed, which would characterise liturgical celebrations for centuries to come.
During the Renaissance, the cathedral underwent its first significant architectural and decorative changes. Themedieval altar was replaced with one in Baroque style, while the stained glass windows were modified to increase the brightness of the interior. Numerous Renaissance-style decorative elements were added to the original structure, partially altering the building’s Gothic appearance.
The Revolution represented a traumatic period for Notre-Dame. The cathedral was declared a ‘Temple of Reason’ and suffered severe damage: numerous statues were beheaded or destroyed, treasures were looted or melted down, and all the bells, with the exception of the famous Emmanuel, were melted down to make cannons. The building risked complete destruction, being saved only by its artistic and historical value.
In the 19th century, thanks to the success of Victor Hugo ‘s novel ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’ (1831), a major restoration began under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Jean-Baptiste Lassus. This monumental intervention included the reconstruction of the central spire, the restoration of the sculptures and portals, the addition of new decorative elements and the restoration of the historic stained glass windows.
In the 20th century, the cathedral went through both world wars unscathed. During this period, periodic restorations were carried out to counter the effects of urban pollution. The cathedral hosted significant historical events, such as the celebration of the liberation of Paris in 1944.
In the late afternoon of 15 April 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the roof and spire of Europe’s most important cathedral as well as significantly damaging the vaults and organ.
Notre-Dame, the Gothic masterpiece and Unesco World Heritage Site, as well as one of the landmarks of Christianity, was heavily damaged. The fire brigade, after fighting for hours against the devastating force of the fire, managed to save the Cross, the High Altar and some treasures such as the tunic of St. Louis and Christ’s crown of thorns (the one that the Roman soldiers supposedly placed on Jesus’ head before his crucifixion).
A few months later, restoration work began, culminating with the reopening in December 2024 but still continuing today.
The immense Notre-Dame Cathedral, with its imposing figure, dominates the Seine and the Île de la Cité and is a monument of immense historical, artistic and religious value.
Despite being heavily damaged during the Revolution, Notre-Dame still retains its timeless beauty, thanks to its forest of rampant arches, its sublime harmony of forms, symmetrical elements, Gothic statues and superb ornate portals.
The façade of the cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic art, creating a perfect balance between the twin towers, the rose window and the three portals, adorned with rows of saints and the Gallery of Kings, with its 28 statues of the Kings of Judah.
The entrances, superbly sculpted and covered with bas-reliefs, are veritable visual narratives for the people, a sort of Poor Man’s Bible that served to spread the word even to the illiterate. They depicted not only episodes from the Old Testament, the Passion and Death of Christ, but also scenes from the seasons, capital vices, virtues and the lives of the saints.
Around the cathedral, Jean Ravy’s multitude of rampant arches create a petrified forest in perfect Gothic style, while high above, perched in the most inaccessible spots, loom the ghostly gargoyles that form the Chimera gallery. It is a fantastic bestiary that seems straight out of a dark fairy tale: dragons, deformed birds, and terrifying chimeras such as Stryga equipped with wings, horns, a human body and a very long tongue to ward off evil spirits.
If from the outside it is striking for its elaborate complexity, the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral amazes with the grandeur of the nave, intersected by a stunning transept and medieval rose windows.
The rose windows are one of the many marvels of the cathedral: magnificent on the outside, they provide the greatest magic from the inside thanks to the stained glass windows that create a kaleidoscope of colours turning to blue and violet.
The cathedral treasury houses ancient manuscripts, reliquaries, sacred works including the Sainte-Couronne, thought to be the crown of thorns that would have encircled Christ’s head before his crucifixion: it is only displayed on the first Friday of each month and during the Easter holidays.
The side chapels of the cathedral house a very rich collection of artwork, the history of which begins in 1449, when the goldsmiths’ guild began to donate a tree decorated with coloured drapes and ribbons each year on 1 May as a sign of devotion. Over the centuries, the annual gift called Les Grands Mays was replaced by works and paintings, of which only 13 remain. The cathedral houses no less than 37 works depicting the Virgin and Child, including an ancient wooden sculpture venerated for centuries.
The choir stalls are finely carved and depict scenes from the life of the Virgin: they were commissioned by Louis XIV. Also worth admiring are the statue of Louis XIII and the Pieta by Nicolas Coustou.
The South Tower houses Emmanuel, the cathedral’s great bell, weighing 13 tonnes and enchanting the city with its purest sound: in fact, the alloy of metals used for casting was embellished with the gems and jewels that the women of Paris donated in 1631.
To reach the North Tower you have to climb 422 steps of a narrow spiral staircase: from up there you have an unparalleled view of the city and can see the gargoyles up close.
The cathedral spire, which is less visible, was designed by the architect Viollet-le-Due, who supervised the restoration work after heavy damage following the Revolution: a cockerel was added to its top in 1936, which holds a fragment of the holy crown of thorns and two relics of Saint Geneviève and Saint Dionysius.
Notre-Dame Cathedral is located in the Île de la Cité district, in the heart of Paris. It is easily reached by public transport:
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
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