Notre-Dame is one of Paris’s most iconic landmarks. Located in the heart of the city on the Île de la Cité, it’s also one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals in the world. Its towering façade and intricate details are enough to leave anyone in awe, and stepping inside is like walking through a masterpiece of history and craftsmanship.

After a devastating fire in 2019 followed by a five-year restoration and reconstruction project, Notre-Dame reopened to the public in December 2024. The result is a testament to the skill and dedication of the artisans behind its restoration, as well as those who originally built it over the course of 180 years beginning back in 1163!

The Restoration

Over the past 5 years, thousands of artisans worked tirelessly to bring Notre-Dame back to life, with only a three-month break during the pandemic. The project included structural rebuilding, art restoration and cleaning, to restore the monument to its state before the fire. To ensure authenticity, keeping its centuries-old craftmanship, the restoration team used original materials when possible. For example, limestone was sourced from the same original quarries to match the stone used centuries ago. Even the wood was hand cut using 13th-century techniques! Seeing the finished product, you can tell that every detail of the cathedral was restored with precision and care.

The iconic 96-meter spire, originally built in 1250 and rebuilt in the late 1700s, was completely destroyed in the fire. Luckily, the 12 Apostle statues on the spire were salvageable. Other restoration efforts included repairing mural paintings, marble floors, ironwork, and the Grand Organ.

Thankfully, none of stained-glass windows were ruined by the fire, but most needed deep cleaning from smoke damage, as shown in the rose window below. To protect them during the construction, the windows were removed and cleaned off site. It took artisans from all over France to bring the stained glass back to life.

Fun Facts

Did you know that 1,000 cubic meters of stone were used to rebuild the walls of the Cathedral? In addition, a total of 2,000 statues were restored and resculpted, including the famous gargoyles and chimères.

During excavation, a fully preserved lead sarcophagus, believed to be from the 14th century, was found!

Plan Your Visit

If you’re planning to visit, be prepared—they are expecting 15 million visitors this year instead of the usual 12 million! Entrance into the cathedral is free but requires a ticket. To avoid waiting in line, you can reserve a spot online, but it’s notoriously difficult. A portion of tickets become available online 2 days ahead of time beginning at midnight (French time), but are typically snagged within 15 minutes!

But don’t worry… I was able to get into the church rapidly in the early morning without a reservation—there was no line! By the time I left the cathedral, a line had formed outside, but it did seem to flow quite quickly.

For more information, visit their website here.

Notre-Dame Hours

Monday to Friday
7:50 AM - 7:00 PM
until 10:00 PM on Thursday

Saturday and Sunday
8:15 AM - 7:30 PM

Whether you’ve visited Notre-Dame prior to the fire, or have never been, its worth a visit! Beyond seeing a historic building, it’s about experiencing the legacy of countless artisans who turned their vision into reality. Whether you’re drawn by the Gothic French architecture, artisan sculptures and murals, religious history, or the breathtaking atmosphere, this iconic cathedral is once again a must-see for anyone traveling to Paris.

XOXO,
Sandra