Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral Reopened to the Public After Years of Restoration

Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has officially reopened to the public, marking a triumphant comeback after a devastating fire in 2019 left the 12^th-century monument heavily damaged.

The long-awaited reopening began on December 7, celebrated with a grand ceremony attended by more than 2,500 people, including dignitaries like U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, the UK’s Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The event commenced as Archbishop Laurent Ulrich knocked three times before opening up Notre Dame’s immense wooden doors, as guests were treated to the resonant sound of the cathedral’s great pipe organ.   

“Notre Dame of Paris was saved. Disfigured but saved,” French President Emmanuel Macron told the assemblage, adding, “We decided to rebuild Notre Dame of Paris even more beautiful than before.”

To commemorate this historic milestone, the cathedral is hosting an eight-day “octave of reopening”, which runs through December 15. During this special period, reservations are required for entry and can be made online at no cost. However, demand has been exceptionally high, with all slots currently booked up for at least the first three days. Several masses will also be held throughout the week, although spots for these services are also sold out.

But, starting December 16, Notre Dame will once again welcome visitors without reservations, operating daily during its regular hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with extended hours until 10 p.m. on Thursdays. Although visitors can make free reservations to minimize their wait time upon arrival, they will not be a requirement.

Enhancing the visitor experience, Notre Dame has launched a dedicated mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Google Play. The app features audio and text-guided tours, schedules for religious services, reservation details and more, and is accessible in French, English and Spanish.

Looking ahead, now that Notre Dame Cathedral has reopened, group tours are set to resume in 2025, offering more opportunities to explore this historic landmark in depth. Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy the public plaza in front of the cathedral’s main entrance, which remains open and free to access without reservations.

After the fire ravaged the historic architectural marvel in April 2019, nearly $1 billion in donations was sent from individuals and corporations around the globe, a testament to the enduring importance of Notre Dame not only to the people of France but to populations worldwide.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.

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