{"id":1603,"date":"2025-02-06T21:32:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T21:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paristour1.com\/?p=1603"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:37:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:37:44","slug":"more-than-a-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/more-than-a-church\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Visit Notre-Dame Today [Updated for 2025]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and one of the most visited monuments in the world. For many romantics, Paris is a mythical city where stories are made, and certainly Notre-Dame is part of this timeless beauty. And despite its devastating 2019 fire<\/a>, Notre-Dame has survived to remain an enchanting Parisian landmark that travelers still dream of visiting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you begin your trip to the cathedral, here\u2019s a few pointers on how to make the most of your experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to find Notre Dame of Paris<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Situated on Paris\u2019 picturesque island, \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9, Notre-Dame sits quite literally in the heart of Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although that is where you’ll find Notre-Dame de Paris, but don\u2019t be surprised if you hear about other Notre-Dame churches far outside the city limits \u2014 in Bordeaux, Rennes, and even tiny villages. These aren’t imposters of (or odes to) the Parisian cathedral. Notre-Dame de Paris, literally translated, is \u201cOur Lady of Paris.\u201d So Notre-Dame is the name given to the central church in many French cities and towns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So while a visit to Notre Dame de Paris will check the grandest Notre-Dame off your bucket list, keep in mind that there’s a whole country\u2019s worth of Notre-Dames still waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notre-Dame\u2019s transformative history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Notre<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While any francophile has probably heard about \u2014 and possibly shed a tear over \u2014 the fire that nearly razed the cathedral in 2019, few are aware that Notre-Dame already has a history of reconstruction literally built into its foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the cathedral\u2019s plot of land was first considered for construction in the mid-12th century, it had already been home to a Roman temple, and later two basilicas that had themselves eroded with time. So when Pope Alexander III ordered the laying of the cathedral\u2019s foundation only years later, the cathedral became the fourth chapter in a long line of religious gems to be erected on that spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the cathedral expanded with increasingly intricate ornamentation over the years, it became one of the architectural darlings of Paris. The stunning cathedral of Notre-Dame is still a masterpiece of Gothic architecture today. The bulk of the work on the church was completed from the 13th century to the 15th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of this monument seeps out at every turn. Damaged during the French Revolution, the cathedral was restored in the 19th century by the architect Viollet-le-Duc. But they kept the damaged statues at the front doors, known as portals, as a reminder of the devastating effects of the French Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInside this restored masterpiece<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notre-Dame Cathedral Guided Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

In recent years, its many visitors come to admire its stained glass and rose windows, the towers, the steeple, and the gargoyles. They could discover the Notre-Dame treasury and have a go at climbing the towers to enjoy a panorama of Paris, including one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stained glass windows of Notre-Dame, particularly the three rose windows, were long considered among the best features of the cathedral. (By the way, if you love stained glass, you should visit Sainte-Chapelle<\/a>, another Parisian church famous for its windows.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Notre<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The fire of Notre-Dame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame nearly disappeared from Paris in a cloud of smoke. When a fire caught in the cathedral\u2019s attic during routine renovations, it burned for over 15 hours. Among the most damaged parts of the Notre Dame were its roof, of which only a fraction remains, and its spire, which collapsed in the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in spite of the blaze, which could have crumbled the structures walls had it further damaged the structurally crucial vaulted ceilings, the majority of the cathedral was saved by firefighters. Most of the cathedral’s relics, including its organs, bells, and treasured paintings, survived the blaze as well with minimal smoke damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the cathedral has emerged from its renovations and scaffolding and is once again welcoming visitors inside the beautifully restored building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to visit Notre-Dame today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Notre-Dame was under renovations from the fire, no interior visits were possible, but luckily, that’s changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cathedral officially reopened Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, with a special reopening ceremony<\/a>. The event included remarks by the French president, a chanting of psalms, organ music, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Mass in the newly restored Notre-Dame de Paris was held the following Sunday morning with President Emmanuel Macron attending and a holy water blessing from the archbishop. Masses were held twice daily for eight days after the reopening with the public invited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral are free, but must be reserved in advance online. Meanwhile, to avoid some of the crowds inside, you can continue to visit the cathedral square, which looks onto both the crypt and the cathedral\u2019s entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA journey of rebirth, ruins, and remembrance<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notre-Dame Outdoor Walking Tour With Crypt Entry<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

For an immersive Notre-Dame experience, take a guided Notre-Dame tour<\/a> with a local. On this outdoor walking tour around the intricate facades of the restored Notre-Dame, you will learn about this monument and its rich history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also tour inside Notre-Dame<\/a> with one of our expert guides. Both tours include your ticket to the archeological crypt \u2014 or the \u201cCrypte arch\u00e9ologique de l’\u00eele de la Cit\u00e9\u201d \u2014 located below Notre-Dame. This underground crypt shows you layers of the city\u2019s history in fascinating ruins, a poignant contrast to the cathedral being rebuilt above ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restoring Notre-Dame: A project complete<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In total, it took almost five years and eight months to restore this massive church that is truly more than just a church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it was being restored, one adorable highlight of the cathedral\u2019s work-in-progress state was the collection of drawings made by local children who imagined what an ideal Notre-Dame could contain. During the reconstruction, the site displayed a variety of creative Notre-Dame-themed artwork<\/a> on the fence surrounding the structure. My personal favorite was a waterpark that some clever kid suggested be installed inside Notre Dame\u2019s new interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They decided not to do the waterpark, but the restored cathedral is truly beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When will Notre-Dame reopen?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People are naturally still asking this question, but NotreDame is already open! It reopened Dec. 7, 2024, in time for Christmas. After being heavily damaged in the fire of April 2019, it took over five years to complete restorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were naturally crowds during the first few months of opening. The secretary general for Notre-Dame de Paris estimated 15 million visitors per year<\/a> after the cathedral reopened (that’s up from 10-11 million in previous years). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you choose to take a guided tour inside, outside, or even visit on your own, adding Notre-Dame to your Paris bucket list is a must!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things to do near Notre-Dame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a visit to Notre-Dame, don\u2019t forget to make the most of its historical neighborhood. Just across the river you\u2019ll find an Instagrammable anglophone bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, named for the original Shakespeare & Company lending library headed by the likes of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and Ernest Hemingway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cathedral is also ideally placed for those who love museums. Just down the river, you can visit the l\u2019Orangerie, my favorite Paris museum. Walk 20 minutes down the river and you\u2019ll find yourself at my second favorite art museum in Paris, the Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Medici<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even closer, head to the Jardin du Luxembourg<\/a>, just 15 minutes away. Our Latin Quarter Walking Tour<\/a> (where you will take the most incredible, envy-inducing photos) meets here. Visiting the garden and the rest of the scenic Latin Quarter is the perfect follow-up to your Notre-Dame experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Notre-Dame since the fire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Voil\u00e0! Now you have all the background and inside tips you need to visit Notre-Dame as she stands today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One interesting fact if you’ve never visited Notre-Dame \u2014 the exterior of the church has no steps. Maybe you\u2019ve watched \u201cThe Hunchback of Notre Dame\u201d on loop and had the same question I did: If there are no steps, then where did Quasimodo\u2019s mother die<\/a>? It’s an existential question that will continue to haunt me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That aside, if seeing Notre-Dame when you visit Paris is your dream, you should know that it\u2019s still possible, whether you visit outside or inside. You can always attend a service to hear the organ during Mass as the light filters through the rose windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you want to discover the history, architecture, and magic of Notre-Dame or hear firsthand accounts of the night it caught fire \u2014 in other words, if you want to learn more about what makes this Paris landmark<\/a> so unique \u2014 then our Notre Dame tour<\/a> is for you. Be sure to check out our other tours of Paris<\/a> too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you\u2019ve seen Notre-Dame, you’ll want to explore the rest of Paris. Our Eiffel Tower tours<\/a> and our expert-led tours of the Louvre<\/a> cover the two most famous attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But truly, the City of Love has a veritable smorgasbord of cultural treasures, including some amazing Parisian architecture<\/a>. Might I suggest veering away from the major landmarks by discovering the lovely Marais neighborhood<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFeel like a local in this hip Paris neighborhood<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Le Marais Walking Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

There’s so much here to see and do, but whether it’s your first trip or your 15th, we’d love to help you make the most of your visit to our beautiful city \u2014 with its famous cathedral restored to its full glory!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and one of the most visited monuments in the world. For many romantics, Paris is a mythical city where stories are made, and certainly Notre-Dame is part of this timeless beauty. And despite its devastating 2019 fire, Notre-Dame has survived to remain an<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":31566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1603"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38329,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603\/revisions\/38329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}