This reopening, planned for December 7 and 8, 2024, marks a historic moment for world heritage.
Reservations are now open online.
Since the fire, Notre-Dame-de-Paris Cathedral has received donations from more than 150 countries, totaling more than a billion euros. These funds made it possible to finance part of the restoration work, demonstrating the importance and overall attachment to this monument, the first stone of which was laid in 1163.
Renaissance of Notre-Dame de Paris, the imposing stone Lady
The renovation of Notre-Dame mobilized 2,000 artisans and workers. Their commitment has been immense, with more than 1.2 million hours of work spent, most of them restoring the spire, bell towers, and stained glass windows. Every detail has been carefully restored to preserve the historic integrity of the cathedral.
Reportage photos and time lapse © Erik Wickström
The renovation work was meticulous and complex with an exemplary, precise sequence for gigantic works requiring the intervention of a multitude of specialized trades, from structural work using ancestral techniques such as the framework and stone cutting, to ‘to the extreme artistic finishes for its most beautiful embellishment with its painted adornments and its stained glass windows and the restoration of the great organ.
5 years flat! The spire, rebuilt and put back in place on December 6, 2023, is topped with a cross. A new rooster was installed atop the spire on December 16, 2023. The apse cross was reinstalled on May 24, 2024, followed by the trumpeting angel on July 24, 2024. The eight bells of the north belfry were reinstalled in place on September 12, 2024.
A new ultra-modern fire protection system has been installed. Concealed pipes run along the frame, ready to release millions of micro-droplets of water to create a water mist and extinguish the flames in minutes.
Time lapse Erik Wickström: rising moon over Notre-Dame Cathedral
The visit to Notre-Dame has been completely redesigned to offer an immersive and accessible experience. New mediation devices, improved signage, a mobile application, and nearly 500 volunteers will welcome visitors. The number of visitors is expected to increase from 11 to 14 million per year.
The reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris is a moment of joy and fraternity for the whole world. This monument, restored thanks to the commitment of thousands of artisans and the donations of millions of people, has regained its splendor and continues to inspire future generations.
100,000 tons of stone and history
The main work on the cathedral was completed in 1345. The construction of the framework of Notre-Dame, often nicknamed “the forest” because of its complexity and density, required approximately 1,300 oaks, or 2,600 tons of wood. taking a weight of 2 tonnes per mature oak. The trees, mainly from the forests of Île-de-France, were felled and transformed into massive beams.
The structure of the cathedral is mainly made of limestone, extracted from quarries in Paris and its surroundings. The construction required during construction, a colossal quantity of limestone, with several tens of thousands of cubic meters for a poids total estimated at approximately 100,000 tons.
These figures illustrate the scale and grandeur of Notre-Dame de Paris, highlighting the monumental effort necessary for its construction. The tons of wood and stone bear witness to the know-how and determination of the craftsmen who erected this emblematic building.
How to book your visit to Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
Visiting the cathedral is free. Going through the website notredamedeparis.fr is preferable to guarantee access to your time slot, thus preventing any heavy traffic.
