Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, France. Travel Pulse
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has officially reopened to the public after undergoing extensive restoration following a devastating fire in 2019. The grand reopening took place on December 7, 2024, and was marked by a special ceremony that included more than 2,500 attendees, such as U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, U.K. Prince William, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and President-elect Donald Trump.
The event began with Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocking three times before opening the massive wooden doors of the cathedral, which revealed the grand sound of its pipe organ filling the air. The symbolic moment was followed by speeches, including one by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared, “Notre Dame of Paris was saved. Disfigured but saved.” He added that the French had decided to rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully than before, marking the beginning of its new chapter.
In honor of the cathedral’s reopening, a special eight-day celebration is taking place, which runs through December 15. During this time, visitors must make free online reservations to enter, though demand has been extremely high, leading to all slots being booked for the first few days. Several masses will also be held throughout the week, but these too have sold out.
From December 16, the cathedral will open its doors without the need for reservations, resuming regular visiting hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with extended hours until 10 p.m. on Thursdays. While reservations are no longer required, they will still be available for those wishing to avoid long wait times.
To enhance the experience, the cathedral has launched a mobile app, available on both iOS and Google Play. The app offers audio and text-guided tours, schedules for religious services, and reservation details, and is available in French, English, and Spanish.
In the future, group tours will be available starting in 2025, offering visitors a deeper exploration of this historical and architectural marvel. Meanwhile, the public plaza outside the cathedral remains open and free for visitors to enjoy, even without reservations.
The restoration of Notre Dame received nearly $1 billion in donations from around the world, highlighting the global significance of the cathedral. The generosity of people from different countries shows how deeply important Notre Dame is to many, not just to the people of France but to individuals everywhere who hold the landmark in high esteem.
