Discover Notre Dame Cathedral: A Historical Icon of Paris
It’s official: the Notre Dame Cathedral, an icon of Paris, will reopen its doors in December 2024. This significant event marks the beginning of a new era in its 860-year history, inviting visitors to marvel at this architectural achievement powered by human imagination. Even before this grand reopening, visitors can experience the majesty of this Gothic monument through various new exhibits and immersive cinematic virtual-reality productions.
Essential Information Before Your Visit to Notre Dame
Prior to the fire that ravaged the cathedral on April 15, 2019, destroying its roof and spire, Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris was the most-visited historic monument in France, attracting around 12 million visitors annually. This monument holds immense religious, cultural, and historical significance; it was the site of royal coronations, marriages, and Emperor Napoleon I’s extravagant five-hour coronation. Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, played a pivotal role in rescuing the cathedral from decay and neglect.
In addition to the stunning stained-glass rose windows, gargoyles, and artworks, the cathedral’s most precious treasures are its religious relics: the crown of thorns, a piece of the cross, and a nail believed to have been used in Christ’s crucifixion. Fortunately, all relics were saved from the fire.
Interestingly, in France, all road distances are measured from Paris using the cathedral square as their starting point.
When is Notre Dame Reopening?
Notre Dame Cathedral is set to welcome visitors back and resume church services in December 2024, slightly missing the French President Emmanuel Macron’s target of the Paris Summer Olympics by four months. Following the fire, it took two years to secure and stabilize the structure for restoration efforts. Currently, the rebuilding project is in full swing, involving 1,000 artisans and craftspeople working diligently to restore the cathedral by the five-year reopening deadline. The complete restoration is expected to be finalized in 2025.
What Can You See at Notre Dame Before Its Reopening?
While the cathedral may be closed, it remains a noteworthy site to include in your itinerary. The underground exhibit focused on restoration efforts may pique some interest, but the monument’s sheer grandeur continues to astound visitors, even amidst scaffolding and cranes.
New bleachers at the far end of the cathedral square offer visitors a wonderful vantage point, as the perimeter of the church is currently encircled by a wraparound enclosure.
Additionally, guests can venture behind the scenes to learn about the extensive efforts to save the church through an exhibit titled “Notre Dame de Paris: In the heart of the restoration,” located in a former underground parking garage behind the bleachers. This exhibit is free and does not require any advance reservations.
Moreover, for a more immersive experience, consider “Eternal Notre Dame,” a 45-minute cinematic VR show that transports viewers back in time to meet key figures behind the cathedral’s construction over its impressive history. This VR experience is available in the same underground venue at Notre Dame, as well as at Cité de l’Histoire located at the northwest end of the city, and La Défense. Tickets are priced at €31.
The Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité offers yet another subterranean experience beneath the cathedral square. It includes an exhibit that delves into how novelist Victor Hugo played a role in saving the monument and the subsequent restoration project spearheaded by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Tickets for this exhibit are available at €9, running until December 31, 2023.
Additionally, commencing from October 19, the Louvre will showcase some of Notre Dame’s treasures, including paintings, manuscripts, and other invaluable pieces that were salvaged from the fire. This exhibition will be available until February 19, 2024, with tickets priced at €17.
Exploring an Underrated Gem: Sainte-Chapelle
Also located on Île de la Cité and just a short 10-minute walk from Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle stands as another Gothic masterpiece. Commissioned by King Louis IX, it housed his personal collection of Christian relics, including the crown of thorns before its relocation to Notre Dame.
Constructed between 1242 and 1248, the chapel features 15 magnificent stained-glass windows that depict 1,113 scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, creating a vibrant display of colors. While Notre Dame impresses with its scale, Sainte-Chapelle overwhelms with its soaring 50-foot tall windows, encapsulating visitors in a near-mystical ambiance of blue light. Entrance to Sainte-Chapelle costs €11.50.
What to Expect When Notre Dame Reopens
Following the catastrophic fire, architects worldwide proposed various designs, from the intriguing to the outlandish, including concepts such as a roof made entirely of stained-glass windows and a rooftop swimming pool. However, officials ultimately opted to stay true to the cathedral’s original design and architectural integrity.
This commitment to tradition extends to the cathedral’s interior as well. Proposals to modernize chairs and add contemporary features were dismissed after widespread criticism from prominent French figures, who viewed these changes as disrespectful to architect Viollet-le-Duc’s original vision. The final plans for the indoor furnishings will be revealed later this year.
As part of an extensive restoration process, the cathedral is undergoing a thorough deep cleaning to remove debris from the fire and more than a century’s worth of dust and pollution. Visitors can expect to find bright, gleaming stone walls and vibrant colors in the newly restored wall paintings and stained-glass windows.
By 2027, plans will also be in place to transform the cathedral’s surroundings, creating a tree-lined square with a cooling feature that releases a gentle trickle of water during hot spells. The green space south of the cathedral will expand into a continuous park, complemented by an indoor promenade that opens onto the Seine.
