Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

About Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris sits on the eastern end of the Ile de la Cite, the small island in the Seine that has been the heart of the city since Roman times. Construction began in 1163 and stretched across nearly two centuries, which is why the building reads as a catalogue of medieval French Gothic: the flying buttresses that let the walls climb higher and thinner, the two great rose windows, and the west facade with its rows of carved kings and the pair of square towers. For most of its history it has been an active Catholic cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Paris, and it has been the setting for coronations, state funerals, and Victor Hugo's 1831 novel that helped save it from demolition.

In April 2019 a fire destroyed the spire and much of the timber roof, and the cathedral was closed for a long and closely watched restoration. It reopened to worshippers and visitors in December 2024, with the interior stonework cleaned, the spire rebuilt to Viollet-le-Duc's 19th-century design, and much of the art and stained glass restored. Because arrangements after the reopening are still settling, it is worth checking current visiting and access details before you go, especially if you want to go up the towers, which have historically been a separate, ticketed climb.

Entry to the cathedral itself for a standard visit is free, as it remains a working place of worship, though free timed reservations have been used to manage crowds since the reopening. The square in front, the Parvis, is a good spot to take in the west facade, and the riverside paths and nearby bridges give you the classic side and rear views of the buttresses. Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris sits within easy walking distance of Sainte-Chapelle, the Latin Quarter, and the Louvre, so it slots naturally into a day spent on foot in central Paris.