Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on 8 December 2024, concluding a five-year restoration journey following the devastating 2019 fire. Visitors will experience the cathedral's renewed splendor through a free mobile application booking system. The reopening introduces a reimagined tour route with a carefully managed daily capacity of 2,500 people, ensuring an intimate and meaningful encounter with this historic monument. This momentous restoration not only reconstructs a physical landmark but also symbolizes cultural resilience, allowing visitors to reconnect with a treasured architectural masterpiece that traditionally attracts between 14 and 15 million people annually. The cathedral's return represents a triumph of preservation, heritage, and collective commitment to protecting France's architectural legacy.
Reopening and inauguration: key dates 2024-2025
The inaugural sequence begins on 7 December with an official handover ceremony and the awakening of the organ. A solemn octave then marks the return to worship from 8 to 15 December, punctuated each day by themed celebrations.
The festivities surrounding the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris continue with two Magnificat concerts on 17 and 18 December. In addition, an exhibition at the Musée de Cluny will be highlighting the cathedral's sculptures from 19 November to 16 March 2025.
Initially, access to the cathedral will be limited to individual visits. Pilgrim groups will be able to visit the building from 1 February 2025, while cultural groups, with or without a guide, will have to wait until 9 June 2025 before discovering the interior of the monument marking the culmination of this year of rebirth.
In the center of Paris, its tall silhouette has been watching the Ile de la Cité for more than 850 years. And yet this jewel of Gothic art has gone through dark hours, as a good witness to Frances 'History. From the Middle Ages to the 20th century, discover six secrets of the past of Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral.
The new tour route after the works
The restored treasures are now easier to explore thanks to the new layout. Visitors now enter through the north portal and walk along the majestic nave to the choir, where the new contemporary liturgical furnishings blend harmoniously with the Gothic architecture.
The restored side chapels reveal their magnificent stained glass windows and original frescoes. Modernised lighting highlights the 33-metre-high vaults.
The chapel of the Virgin Mary is the highlight of the tour. Its gilded bronze altar, the work of artist Guillaume Bardet, blends in perfectly with this iconic site. The tour ends at the south exit, offering uninterrupted views over the Seine.
Attend a concert: another way to visit Notre-Dame de Paris
What better setting than Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral to hear a concert of sacred music? From Gregorian chants to contemporary creations, the Notre-Dame de Paris choir is offering an exceptional programme to mark the cathedral's reopening.
In all, some fifty concerts are planned from December 2024, with the participation of international soloists, guest orchestras and choirs, and a series of recitals on the great organ. Join us every Sunday at 4pm for auditions performed by tenured organists and students from leading music schools. The world's greatest organists will also be invited in 2025, including Daniel Roth, Shin-Young Lee, Jean-Willy Kunz, David Cassan and Véronique Le Guen.
Throughout the year, concerts by the Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris will be held on Tuesday evenings. Calling all heritage and music lovers!
Opening times and access to the cathedral
Visitors can enjoy extended opening hours during the first week, until 10 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and 8 p.m. on the weekend of 14-15 December.
Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral will be accessible at special times in the days following its reopening:
On 8 December 2024, the day after the inauguration, Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral will be accessible from 5.30 pm to 10 pm.
From 9 to 13 December 2024, the faithful will be able to visit the cathedral from 3.30 pm to 10 pm.
From 14 to 15 December 2024, access to the cathedral will be possible between 3.30 pm and 8 pm.
From 16 December 2024, Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral will be open to visitors every day from 7.45am to 7pm.
The monument is located in the heart of the Ile de la Cité. It is easily accessible from the Cité or Saint-Michel Notre-Dame metro stations. Buses 21, 38, 47, 85 and 96 also serve the area.
Sunday mass begins at 11:30am, while three daily services punctuate the spiritual life of the cathedral at 8:00am (8:30am on Saturdays), 12:00pm and 6:00pm. The cathedral's treasury will be open to lovers of sacred art from 16 December.
Monday, April 15, 2019. The eyes of the whole world turned towards Notre-Dame in flames. The cathedral burned for several hours, but the foundations and the facade remained intact. As the most visited historical monument in Europe with 13 million visitors each year, Notre-Dame has indelibly marked both hearts and history. Follow us on a look back at 10 dates that fed the mythos of this UNESCO World Heritage jewel.
Immersive experience and virtual tour
Technology invites itself into the Notre-Dame experience with ‘Eternal Notre-Dame’, a gripping virtual reality adventure available beneath the cathedral forecourt. Equipped with the latest immersive headsets, you will travel through eight centuries of history in a breathtaking digital reconstruction of the monument.
The ‘Notre-Dame Whispers’ mobile application enhances your exploration with an audio immersive walk around the cathedral. This free experience reveals the little-known secrets and anecdotes of the sacred site.
For an even more spectacular experience, head to La Défense where the Cité de l'Histoire is offering a life-size virtual reconstruction. This technology, which won an award at the Venice Biennale 2022, takes you to the very heart of medieval construction techniques.
Further information:
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
