Five and a half years after the “construction site of the century”, the restored cathedral reopens its doors to the public. Schedules, reservation application, here’s how to access the building.
Notre-Dame de Paris has finally risen from its ashes since the fire of April 15, 2019, magnificently restored and of “immaculate whiteness” after a reconstruction which cost some 700 million euros, financed exclusively by donations.
The first visitors to the Lady of Stone who have managed to book their visit via the reservation system are expected this Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 5:30 p.m., the gauge is already full. Will it be necessary to book from next week? Is access free? At what times? We take stock of the weeks to come.
Do you have to pay to go to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris?
Entrance remains free: “We maintain unchanged our position which is that, and repeatedly reiterated, of the Church (…) in France on the necessary free access to churches and cathedrals. And recalled that this principle does not does not contradict the concern to safeguard religious heritage”, Mgr Ulrich announced. SOnly access to the Treasury – liturgical and historical objects – requires a paid ticket.
A time slot reservation application has been set up, called “Notre-Dame de Paris” (blue logo ND), the system can only accommodate a maximum of 3,000 visitors simultaneously. The application is available for free download on the Android and Apple stores. Individual reservations are possible upon reopening, but for groups it will be for Pentecost 2025. Four tour routes adapted to different visitors are offered, including a classic route, one for pilgrims, one for families and one with audio description. They are available in three languages: French, English and Spanish.
What are the opening hours of Notre-Dame de Paris?
The first week of opening, the cathedral will be open from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Friday, then from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15. “On December 16, ordinary life will resume,” however, clarified the rector of the cathedral, Mgr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, during a press conference in Paris, with opening hours from 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What date is set for the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris?
The reopening of Notre-Dame is scheduled for Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. “In 2024, you will see in the sky of Paris shining the arrow which will no longer be the arrow of Viollet-Le-Duc but of Philippe Villeneuve [l’architecte en charge de la reconstruction – NDMLR] ” declared General Jean-Louis Georgelin at the start of the project. But the reopening of the cathedral does not mean an end to the work. The restoration project of the cathedral will continue for another 4-5 years.