Update. Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024. Since then, the cathedral has changed its visiting rules and guided visits inside have become very hard to obtain. What this means for a visit today →
“ We will find again our common home, where everyone, even the small and the poor, has their place […] We are eager to welcome the whole world under the vaults of Notre-Dame, regardless of their origins or spiritual affiliations, we will welcome them generously and freely. ”
- Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris, 13th of November 2024
Dear friends, and fellow travelers,
After five years of meticulous restoration following the devastating fire of 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen its doors on December 7th and 8th.
The restoration process has been nothing short of extraordinary. Craftsmen and artisans have worked tirelessly to restore the cathedral to its former glory, facing numerous challenges along the way. From the intricate stonework to the stained-glass windows, every detail has been meticulously attended to. The project has also unveiled fascinating discoveries about the cathedral’s history and construction.
Once again, the monumental Parisian landmark is ready to welcome visitors.
A week full of celebrations
The reopening week promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.
Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect when visiting Paris in December 2024 :
7th of December : reopening ceremony
The festivities will take place at the end of the day and will be divided into three parts:
A first secular and republican moment, during which President Emmanuel Macron will give a speech in front of the cathedral. This will be an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who have worked on this restoration.
The second part will be devoted to the liturgy, with ceremonies presided over by the Archbishop of Paris, where the cathedral is going to be officially reopened.
To continue the celebrations, a two-hour cultural event, starting at 9:30 pm, in which many artists will participate
Is there anything specific to do to reopen a cathedral ?
Yes !
According to the rites for such an event, it will be up to the archbishop to knock on the main door of Notre-Dame with his crosier, to open it, and thus enter the cathedral.
Then, it is important to awaken the organ : the archbishop will call out to the organ eight times, which will respond to him.
Liturgical works reserved for exceptional events will then be played, including a Magnificat, an Our Father and a Te Deum.
The resurrection of Notre-Dame will then be fully confirmed !
8th of December : first public mass
The inaugural mass (the first one since the fire of 2019 !) and the consecration of the altar will take place the day after the cathedral reopens, at 10:30 AM. It will be run by the archbishop of Paris, and in the presence of more than 150 bishops from France and the world, priests and faithful representing the parishes of the diocese of Paris.
Several rites will also be performed during that first mass.
The archbishop will sprinkle holy water on the altar, the ambo (the desk where the speaker usually reads texts from the Bible) and the assembly as a sign of recognition and purification.
He will then place the relics of five saints (three women and two men) sealed in the altar : Saint Marie Eugénie de Milleret, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Charles de Foucauld, and Blessed Vladimir Ghika, who each left their mark on the history of the diocese of Paris.
Then the moment of the consecration of the altar will come, as the archbishop will coat it with oil of the holy chrism (one of the three holy oils used during the liturgy) to impregnate it, and will then make an offering of incense, to manifest the prayers of the assembly.
From December 8 to 14 : open to the public until 10 pm
From Sunday, December 8 to Saturday, December 14, Notre-Dame will reopen, with an entrance until 10 PM.
Tickets will be needed, more information about it below !
Visiting Notre Dame after the celebrations
According to the Archbishop of Paris, 15 million visitors are expected each year in the cathedral. It will surely become the most visited monument of France in 2025 if that’s right !
Opening Hours
From Monday, December 16, 2024, life at Notre-Dame will return to its normal schedule.
The cathedral will be open from 7:45 AM to 7 PM.
Daily masses will be celebrated :
During Weekdays : at 8 AM., 12 PM. and 6 PM.
On Saturdays : at 8:30 AM., 12 PM. and 6 PM.
On Sundays : at 8:30 AM., 10 AM (Latin mass), 11:30 AM and 6 PM
Tickets
A free ticketing system will allow individuals to reserve a ticket two days before, one day before, or on the day of the visit. If you cannot get a ticket to enter, it will still be possible to wait in line outside to enter the cathedral. It might just be longer than with a scheduled ticket.
The tickets will be booked through an official website and will be free !
Please, my friends, be careful of resellers. You should not pay a cent to enter the cathedral. I will share the link to the official website when it opens.
In a few words …
Notre-Dame de Paris has risen from the ashes, more resplendent than ever.
To witness this rebirth is truly a privilege.
I am really excited to visit it, as I kind of forgot how it was inside, after so much time… When Notre-Dame burnt, I was working as an Engineer, with a different vision of the cathedral. At the time, it just felt like one of the many buildings I had in my city, this one being older than the others.
But being able to rediscover it as a guide, with everything I have learned about the cathedral for the last years, will truly be a unique experience, one of a kind in a life ! I’m excited to rediscover the building itself, but also all the fabulous artworks we have inside, that were saved from the fire.
For me, the fire really put in perspective how fragile our patrimony is, how we need to take the time to enjoy it and do as much as we can to protect it for the next generations to come.
I would love to read your reactions and feelings about the reopening of Notre-Dame. Feel free to contact me or leave a comment !
Also, if you are interested by the results of the discoveries of the archaeological excavations around Notre-Dame, let me know in the comments. If I receive eight comments inquiring about this, I will write an article about these discoveries.
Best,
Simon
