Would you like to rediscover Notre-Dame de Paris after so many years of restoration? Victor Hugo immortalized it brilliantly in one of French literature's most emblematic novels... Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is one of the capital's most beautiful jewels, and probably one of the most visited monuments in the City of Light. Every year, no fewer than 13 million visitors stroll through the aisles of the nave and other apses of the building, and this reopening is likely to increase this figure, even if visitor quotas are put in place.
Construction of the edifice began under the impetus of Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163, and was completed several hundred years later, in the mid-14th century. A building that has seen history unfold before its eyes, from the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804 to the funeral of François Mitterrand in 1996, via the Magnificat sung for the liberation of Paris on August 26, 1944.
Almost five years after the fire of April 2019, Notre-Dame de Paris is finally back in the public eye. This reopening is accompanied by a number of new features: a completely redeveloped forecourt, free reservations to limit the flow of visitors, and a tour route to discover the restored treasures. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit.
A free reservation system is in place. The 30-minute slots are available the day before, the day before and the day of your visit, to avoid scheduling bottlenecks. A word of advice: try them out at different times of the day. Go to the official website or the dedicated apps. You can also try going without tickets. After a difficult first few days, we tested the visit during the week. There were virtually no queues in the mornings, apart from masses, and around twenty minutes in the afternoons. It's possible that these times will lengthen during the vacations, but access is quite possible.
Since December 16, 2024, opening hours have been as follows: Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8am to 7pm; Thursday, 8am to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8.15am to 7.30pm. Weekday masses are celebrated at 8am, 12pm and 6pm. Numerous celebrations enrich weekends and feast days. Concerts are generally held on Tuesdays at 8.30pm, while auditions for the great organ take place every Sunday at 4pm.
While for a time there was talk of charging a five-euro entrance fee, it will remain free. Except for access to the Treasury, a separate area housing liturgical and historical objects, which will require a ticket. Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris, insists on the need to"share freely" this part of our history.
For this first Christmas since its reopening, Notre-Dame offers a program rich in emotion. On Tuesday December 24, masses will be held at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm, followed by a musical vigil from 11pm with the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris, to plunge you into the mystery of the Holy Night. Midnight mass, the highlight of the vigil, will be celebrated at midnight by the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich. The following day, Wednesday December 25, services will be held at 8.30am, 11am and 6pm, with vespers at 5.15pm. The program and directions.
The forecourt has been redesigned to offer a more welcoming, plant-filled space, with facilities for visitors and worshippers alike. This transformation aims to make the Notre-Dame experience more soothing and spiritual, allowing everyone to enjoy the renovated setting around this must-see monument.
Visitors can admire Viollet-le-Duc's restored spire and the roofs of the nave and choir. Three themed tour routes will be offered, each enabling visitors to discover different facets of the cathedral, from religious heritage to works of art. Full guided tours and group access will be available from June 2025.
What to do around Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis: Our tips and addresses
Out and about near Notre-Dame de Paris, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis? Follow our guide to find out more about the history of the area, and find out what's going on around here! [Read more]
With Notre-Dame Cathedral due to reopen in December 2024, the area around the building is to be redeveloped, with work scheduled to start in autumn 2025. While the creation of a large square is on the agenda, the City of Paris also reveals that the underground parking lot, located beneath the forecourt, will be transformed into an "interior promenade". We tell you all about it. [Read more]
This year, Notre-Dame de Paris celebrates its first Christmas masses since the fire in 2019. These celebrations, scheduled for December 24 and 25, 2024, promise to draw large crowds under its majestic vaults. If you'd like to take part in these masses on the occasion of its reopening, we tell you all about the details. [Read more]
For the festive season, an exceptional Neapolitan nativity scene takes up residence in Notre-Dame de Paris, recently reopened to the public. An 18th-century masterpiece, it unveils 150 santons showcasing Italian craftsmanship and Christmas traditions. Come and visit the cathedral until February 2025! [Read more]
The year 2024 was particularly exceptional for the people of Paris Region, who were able to experience some great historic moments. Here's a snapshot of the year in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. [Read more]
Like many religious sites, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is home to a special treasure trove. Discover the precious and sacred objects preserved in the heart of the monument. [Read more]
Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the capital's jewels... Which itself is home to a number of treasures. Discover the works of art that adorn the walls of the famous cathedral. [Read more]
To mark the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Hôtel Castille is hosting the exhibition "Notre-Dame, Symbol of a Renaissance" from December 8, 2024 to February 8, 2025. This mini-exhibition plunges visitors into the heart of photographer Patrick Zachmann's work. [Read more]
The Notre-Dame de Paris Christmas Market is a special one this year, with the Cathedral reopening in early December. From November 29 to December 25, 2024, visitors will flock to Square Viviani for French crafts and gastronomy, as well as free entertainment for children, including Santa Claus. [Read more]
The Musée de la Légion d'Honneur pays tribute to the craftsmen who helped renovate Notre-Dame de Paris, in an exhibition running from December 11, 2024 to March 2, 2025. [Read more]
To coincide with the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Musée de Cluny is presenting two exhibitions, including one on masterpieces from its medieval library, organized in conjunction with BnF, from November 19, 2024 to March 16, 2025. [Read more]
To mark the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Musée du Moyen-Âge is presenting an exhibition based on its sculpted decor and the stones recovered, providing an opportunity to imagine the monument in medieval times, from November 19, 2024 to March 16, 2025. [Read more]
The La Nouvelle Seine barge, located at the foot of Notre-Dame in Paris, offers a beautiful restaurant on the water, as well as a terrace bar where you can soak up the sun. Then continue on to the theater section for a comedy show, one-man show or cabaret. [Read more]
Notre-Dame de Paris as you've never seen it before: discover the immersive virtual reality experience "Eternelle Notre-Dame". Offered at La Défense and on the cathedral's forecourt, this astonishing show plunges us into the heart of history. [Read more]
The Notre-Dame de Paris: au coeur du chantier exhibition, which takes place beneath the cathedral's forecourt, is now unveiled. From March 7, 2023, until the monument reopens, discover the work of the hundreds of men and women who are rebuilding the cathedral. It's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the highlights of the titanic construction site, to discover the work of the journeymen and craftsmen, and the challenges of reconstruction. [Read more]
Take a stroll around Paris in the footsteps of the great French writer Victor Hugo, and discover the many places that marked his life. [Read more]
Five years after the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the statue of the Virgin Mary is set to return to the monument. This Friday, November 15, 2024, she will take to the streets of the capital in a procession from the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois to the cathedral forecourt. [Read more]
Notre-Dame de Paris reopens to the public on December 8, 2024, almost five years after the devastating fire of April 2019. This much-anticipated reopening is accompanied by a free reservation system, designed to manage the expected crowds. We tell you all about the ticket reversals. [Read more]
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Location
Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
75004 Paris 4
Access
Metro - RER: - Cité (4) - Saint Michel - Notre-Dame (B,C) - Hôtel de Ville (1,11) - Maubert-Mutualité / Cluny - La Sorbonne (10) - Châtelet - Les Halles (7,14,A,D)
Prices
Free
Official website
www.notredamedeparis.fr
More information
Concerts are generally held on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. Organ auditions take place on Sundays at 4 p.m.
What to do around Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis: Our tips and addresses
Parvis de Notre-Dame de Paris: the former underground parking lot transformed into an indoor promenade
How to attend Christmas mass at Notre-Dame de Paris?
Notre-Dame: Italy takes to the cathedral vaults with a Neapolitan crib for Christmas
2024 in pictures: a recap of a crazy year in Paris and the Île-de-France region
Notre-Dame de Paris: what is the cathedral treasure and where is it kept?
Notre-Dame de Paris: what works of art can be admired in the cathedral?
The charming Christmas Market at Notre-Dame de Paris honours French artists and craftsmen
Gardiens du geste: the exhibition to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame at the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur
Browse Notre-Dame, the cathedral's medieval manuscript exhibition at the Musée de Cluny
Making stones speak, the exhibition on Notre-Dame's medieval sculptures at the Musée de Cluny
La Nouvelle Seine: the restaurant-bar, terrace and shows opposite Notre-Dame
Eternelle Notre-Dame: the historical immersive experience in virtual reality
Notre-Dame de Paris at the heart of the construction site, the free exhibition under the forecourt in photos
Discover Paris in the footsteps of Victor Hugo
Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris: follow the procession of the statue of the Virgin Mary, the date
