Notre Dame Cathedral

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The Notre Dame is considered to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world

Due to a devastating fire causing severe damage to the the roof and vault of the Notre Dame on April 15th, 2019, it will be closed to the public until further notice. This valuable UNESCO World Heritage site will be restored with meticulous care.

Visitors can stil get a good view of the outside of the Cathedral from multiple vantage points including the streets of the Ile de la Cité, the bridges over the Seine, the left bank quays and the Ile Saint Louis.

How Long will it take to restore the Notre Dame Cathedral

No one knows for certain how long it might take to restore the Notre Dame after fire. While the President of France would like to see it done in 5 years, this is likely an overly optimistic goal. While the restoration is expected to cost upward of 1 billion dollars, money is not the issue. There are plenty of donations and funding to cover the cost. There are also skilled trades and craftsman who have the experience needed to do this type of work. The issue is simply that this type of work is painstaking and cannot be rushed. Most experts estimate the restoration will take 10 to 20 years and possibly much longer.

This is not the first time the Notre Dame has been damaged. It was also ravaged during the French Revolution, and was beautifully restored after that as well. It is a shame that the statues and stained glass windows destroyed during that time are lost forever.

Visiting the Notre Dame

Visitors to Paris can still enjoy seeing the outside of this magnificent structure. The renowned rose colour stained-glass windows and iconic twin square towers survived the fire. There is still plenty of architectural detail to discern and looking beyond the scafolding and reflecting, one can still envision the overall lines and beauty of this historic Cathedral. Many visitors still come by daily to do just that. There are plenty of vantage points on the surrounding streets and bridges and from the left bank of the Seine.

Interesting Facts and History

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a name that most people will immediately recognize. Notre Dame de Paris, meaning Our Lady of Paris, is its full name. The cathedral was built in the Gothic style and, up until the fire in April of 2019, it was actively used as a Roman Catholic church. It is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world.

The Notre Dame received much notoriety from the famous novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by renowned author Victor Hugo which was published in 1831. Today it attracts over 13 million visitors and pilgrims each year. In holding with the view that worshiping the Lord should be open to all, there is no entrance fee to the cathedral. Visitors are asked to dress appropriately and to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb those who come to worship in its hallowed halls.

A number of significant events have taken place in the Notre Dame Cathedral. Some of those events include the coronation of Henry VI as king of France, the marriage of James V of Scotland to Madeleine of France, the coronation of Napoleon I, as well as the beautification and canonization of Joan of Arc.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was built on the exact site of the first Parisian Christian church, Saint Etienne basilica. The basilica was built on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter. Thus the Notre Dame Cathedral symbolizes the victory of Christianity over the pagan Roman gods to some pilgrims.

Nearby attractions: Sainte Chapelle and The Latin Quarter

See the complete line of Paris Experiences on Viator

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No. Access to inside the Cathedral is closed due to the fire but the outside and the restoration work can still be viewed from the surrounding streets.

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

Phone: 01 42 34 56 10

Official Website: Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Wonderful cathedral with a rich history that is under renovation and rejuvenation now because of a massive fire that broke out in 2019. I went anyway because I wanted to take a look at it now, but happy to know that it will be reopened December 2024. Look out for the lovely music from street buskers, little shops along the cathedral and a photographer who takes photos of you and prints it into a newspaper-like feature that's a lovely souvenir. You pay as you like, and can don't pay too, but I paid €5 and got 3-4 shots. Lovely around Notre Dame!
Nicole Yang - in the last week

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5 Star Rating Visiting during the restoration is an interesting experience. Although it’s not possible to enter, the atmosphere around still feels magical and impressive. The cathedral remains beautiful in its own way. Walking around the area allows you to appreciate the history and grandeur of the Gothic architecture. Seeing the restoration work from the outside is also exciting, as it showcases the effort to revive this great cultural heritage.
tOngz NP - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Such an amazing cathedral! Wonderful to see the progress of the restoration. I couldn’t help but stop & sit, and worship God for all the years that magnificent church has been in service to so many people. Thankful to all the donors as well.
Laquita Wooten - a month ago

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5 Star Rating This is such a beautiful Cathedral, but it still under reconstruction after the fire. This is one of the most iconic monuments in France and it will be re-opening on 2025 We just have the opportunity to see it from the bleachers and walk around, but we will define you come back after the construction is done 🙏
Antonio Perez Coss - 2 weeks ago

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4 Star Rating It was in my bucket list but due to fire incident could not get the chance to visit this magnificent cathedral and history associated with it. It is near the Latin Quarter. It is one of the most famous churches in the world with two huge towers and mighty flying buttresses and for a long time the main symbol of Paris, before the Eiffel Tower was built. An island in the Seine River, it is the historical and geographical center of Paris. The Notre-Dame Cathedral was founded in 1163 by King Louis IX (Saint Louis), and the construction took more than 150 years. Cathedral is temporarily closed for at least 5-6 years. I took a couple of photos of this historic church and roamed along Seine River. I reached here at sunrise time, it was looking stunning. Fact: Among other things, it was the location of Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation in 1804 and its painting is in the Louvre Museum.
Sanjay Gupta - 2 months ago

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Directions

Metro / RER Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
M4	Saint-Michel	7 minutes
M10	Cluny - La Sorbonne	6 minutes
M1, 7, 11, or 14	Châtelet	12 minutes
RER B or C	Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame	6 minutes

How to get to Notre Dame Cathedral by Metro / RER

By Metro: From Metro Line 4 exit at Saint-Michel Station and cross the road to your right and walk north straight across the Saint-Michel Bridge. You will already see the Notre Dame to your right as you are crossing the bridge. From Metro Line 1,7,11, or 14 exit at Châtelet Station and follow Rue Saint-Denis south and cross the bridge over the Seine. Keep walking south on Blvd du Palais and go left just before the next bridge. The Notre Dame is straight ahead. From Cluny - La Sorbonne Station exit and go east to Rue Saint-Jacques; then left (north)continuing across the bridge.

By RER: Take RER B or C to Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame Station and cross the Saint-Michel Bridge. Notre Dame is visible on your right.