Notre-Dame de Paris

Gothic Cathedral Begun In 1163 On The Ile De La Cite, Badly Damaged By Fire In April 2019 And Reopened In December 2024; Part Of The UNESCO Banks Of The Seine Listing · Paris, Ile-de-France

Notre-Dame de Paris is the Gothic cathedral of the city, begun in 1163 on the Ile de la Cite and largely finished by the mid-fourteenth century, with its twin towers, flying buttresses and three great rose windows. On the evening of 15 April 2019 a fire destroyed the roof and the spire and shocked the world. After more than five years of restoration by craftspeople from across France, it reopened in December 2024, with a rebuilt oak roof, a new spire copied from the nineteenth century design of Viollet-le-Duc, and cleaned stone that looks brighter than it has for centuries. Entry to the nave is free, and a reservation system may help skip the queue, to confirm. The towers reopened to visitors later on a separate paid timed ticket, also to confirm. It is a working cathedral with daily Masses. In front of it on the square lies Point Zero, from which distances from Paris are measured, and Sainte-Chapelle is a short walk away. Queues are long, so go early.

6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, Paris, Ile-de-France, France

The cathedral is open every day, from morning into the early evening, with some later openings on certain evenings; confirm the current schedule, which has been adjusted since the reopening. Entry to the nave is free. A free online reservation system for timed entry has been offered since the reopening to reduce the queue, while a walk-up line remains; at busy times the walk-up wait can be long, so a reservation is worth having. Visiting is restricted or paused during major services, feast days and special ceremonies, and some areas close during Mass. The towers are visited on a separate paid ticket with timed slots, booked in advance, and close in bad weather; confirm current access. The treasury and the archaeological crypt under the square have their own hours and tickets. Easter, Christmas and other great feasts bring huge crowds and special liturgies, and the cathedral may be closed to tourist visits at those times. Check the official cathedral site on the day before you go.

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