Notre Dame Cathedral opens in Paris

After five years of restoration work, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris welcomed its first visitors on December 7 and 8.

The iconic monument’s rebuilding cost nearly $1 billion, of which $47 million was provided by 45,000 generous donors.

Some thought the restoration of this magnitude would take 40 years to complete, but thanks to hundreds of meticulous French craftspeople and artisans, the task was completed in record time.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral is the most visited historic monument in Europe. Before COVID, in 2018, more than 13 million visitors entered the 860-year-old church to see the significant religious art and impressive Gothic architecture known as Radiant Gothic.

Originally designed by an unknown architect, the church took nearly two centuries to build, from 1163 to the mid-14th century.

Notre Dame Fire

On April 15, 2019, the world watched in shock as a fire destroyed the cathedral’s spire, roof of the nave, transept, and roof structure. This was not the first time the cathedral had been severely damaged; the first was during the French Revolution.

(L) Inside the Notre-Dame de Paris. Photo: Vincent Dupont-Rougier© (R) Outside the Notre-Dame de Paris. Photo: Yannick Boschat©

Notre Dame Cathedral opens in Paris. Photo: Yannick Boschat©

Intricate Rose Windows inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Photo: David Bordes ©

Restoration of Norte Dame Cathedral

Everything has been refreshed, scrubbed of soot and grim, and immaculately polished to its former glory, leaving no signs of damage. France’s largest organ has been recalibrated. The medieval rose windows, created during the mid-13th century, are mostly original and display varying hues of colour; depending on the time of the day, the sunlight reflects off the glasswork.

Touring Notre Dame

Notre Dame has played a significant role in French history, marking many famous occasions, such as Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation in 1804, Joan of Arc’s beatification in 1909, and the Liberation of Paris celebration in 1944.

The cathedral expects to see 40,000 people daily, with a maximum capacity of 2,500, upping its yearly visit numbers to 15 million. There is no entrance fee to visit, and a new online reservation system will ease wait times. Reservations are not mandatory but recommended. Masses and services are open to the public for communion and meditation, subject to the number of spaces available.

Don’t miss the Treasury Museum inside the Notre Dame, where France’s most valuable religious, cultural, and historic artifacts are displayed. There is a charge to access the museum.

Volunteer guides offer free tours around the outside of the Cathedral.

Notre Dame Concerts

There will be an exceptional range of Sacred Music, with fifty concerts performed on Tuesday evenings throughout the year. Find out more.

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