{"id":880333,"date":"2024-12-13T15:49:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T14:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/notre-dame-cathedral-paris\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T16:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:21:17","slug":"notre-dame-cathedral-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/notre-dame-cathedral-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Notre-Dame: How Paris\u2019s iconic cathedral was brought back to life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Notre-Dame cathedral is not just an icon of Paris<\/a>, it\u2019s one of the most famous and most-visited religious sites in the world. Originally built in the 12th Century, it has proudly stood guard over the French capital for over 1,000 years. But, tragically, in 2019 the seemingly invincible building was badly damaged by a fire, an event that shook the city \u2013 and indeed the rest of France<\/a> and the world \u2013 to its core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, just last week, after five years of painstaking restoration, Notre-Dame cathedral was reopened to the public. This is the story of that journey, and everything you need to know about visiting the iconic building on your next trip to Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Notre-Dame<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The fire that broke France\u2019s heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we still don\u2019t know exactly how it started, we do know what happened afterwards. On April 15, 2019 a fire caught and spread through the \u2018forest\u2019 of oak beams that were supporting the cathedral\u2019s roof. It quickly climbed upwards into the \u2018la fl\u00e8che\u2019, or \u2018the arrow\u2019, otherwise known as the cathedral\u2019s gothic spire that towered over the rooftops of central Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time firefighters got to the blaze it was too late to save the roof, but they managed to stop the fire from doing irreversible damage to the rest of the building.<\/p>\n\n\nTour not found.\n\n\n

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In the days after the fire, France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron pledged that the cathedral would be restored within 5 years \u2013 in time for the Paris Olympics in summer 2024. It was an ambitious target \u2013 particularly given that architectural experts weren\u2019t even sure if the original structure could be replicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was needed was up to $1 billion, an army of artisans, up to 2,000 oak trees and a small miracle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read next: 12 hidden gems you should explore next time you visit Paris<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The rebuild that restored the faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just sourcing and preparing the wood for replacing the roof supports took the best part of 2 years. Over 1,000 mature oak trees from across France were timbered (with new trees replanted in their place) and brought to Paris to be conditioned. There was also a huge cleanup job to complete, removing the charred remains of the roof timbers, molten lead and fallen masonry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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In 2022, three years after the fire, the green light for the reconstruction phase was finally given. The stained glass windows were cleaned of soot and scorch marks. The stone vaults or archways that criss-cross the ceiling were painstakingly replaced using medieval techniques. The \u2018forest\u2019 of timber frames that support the roof was restored. Finally, in early 2024, like a magician\u2019s trick in slow motion, the scaffolding that had shrouded the roof for so many months was removed to reveal the iconic \u2018fl\u00e8che\u2019, as if it had never been missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work continued for the rest of the year on finishing touches, an international work force of artisans (including three american carpenters) working round the clock. The Paris Olympics came and went without an official reopening, but by the autumn of 2024 the finish line was well in sight. The work may have run a couple of months beyond Macron\u2019s dream deadline, but it would be finished within the year \u2013 achieving the original 5-year pledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An emotional reopening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the 7th December 2024, the world\u2019s press and over 1,500 world leaders gathered in the French capital for the official reopening ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Paris. What they were met with when they entered the cathedral was spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only had the Notre-Dam restored structurally to its original form, its interior stonework beamed blondish-white, cleaned of the grime that had built up over the centuries \u2013 let alone the dirt from the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the grand reopening ceremony, there was an \u2018octave of reopening\u2019 between the 8th and 15th December, when Paris\u2019s public were invited to attend various celebratory events within Notre-Dam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting Notre-Dam: everything you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the 16th December 2024, Notre-Dame cathedral will resume its regular daily schedule for the first time since 2019. This means that anyone visiting Paris will be able to enter the cathedral to experience its freshly-restored grandeur first-hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry cost:<\/strong> Free. Entry to the cathedral is free for all visitors. A donation is welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cathedral opening hours:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – 7:00 pm (closing on Thursdays at 10:00 pm)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday and Sunday: 8:15 am – 7:30 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last entry is 30 mins before closing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timetable:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday to Friday:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n