How to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris

After a fire shuttered the Gothic landmark for five years, visitor demand is expected to be high once the doors reopen December 8

- Lindsey Tramuta

The damage required painstaking restoration and rebuilding. But eight restored bells in the northern belfry have already begun ringing in preparation for Notre-Dame’s grand return, which brings with it many new features. Visitors will discover an interior with pristine limestone walls, contemporary liturgical furnishings, restored religious masterworks from the 17th and 18th centuries, and a brand-new cedar reliquary for the crown of thorns, a relic believed to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Despite President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to reopening the 860-year-old Gothic building within five years, reaching this point wasn’t easy, said Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, Notre-Dame’s rector. The challenge was met with nearly 2,000 workers and artisans, hundreds of thousands of donations, and a little bit of faith.

Before the fire, the cathedral regularly clocked 12 million visitors annually. Once the doors are reopened, more than 40,000 people are expected daily. While visiting the cathedral will remain free of charge, reservations must be made online in advance. So it is strongly encouraged to plan ahead when visiting.