Struck by a devastating fire in 2019,Notre-Dame has now been undergoing renovation for five years. Five years in which Parisians and tourists from all over the world have had to be patient before seeing the cathedral finally renovated. On Saturday December 7, the cathedral finally reopened to the public. Discover 7 things you need to know about this long-awaited reopening.
1 – You’ll have to book your visit online
As you may have guessed, Notre-Dame is likely to be quite busy when it reopens. To keep things running smoothly, you’ll need to book your visit online. All you need to do is reserve your time slot 1 or 2 days beforehand. You can book by the hour or half-hour, as you wish. If you don’t book, don’t panic! You’ll still be able to enter the cathedral. You’ll just have to be patient. Good to know: single people, the faithful and visitors will be able to admire Notre-Dame. Groups, however, will have to wait until Pentecost 2025. Notre-Dame can accommodate around 2,500 people.
Tip: if you want to visit Notre-Dame “just for you”, you’ll have a better chance of admiring it serenely one or two hours before it closes.
2 – An application will be launched to facilitate your visit
To help you make the most of your visit, an application will be launched! Downloadable on Android and Apple, it should be available next autumn. Paper guides will also be distributed to all visitors to help them learn more about this major religious building.
3 – New directions and signage
That’s right! With its new look, Notre-Dame will offer a whole new way to visit. Built from left to right, the route will take in 10 points of interest, with an educational angle accessible to all. Regular visitors to the cathedral will also notice the new signage.
4 – New chairs and liturgical furnishings
Consumed by the flames, Notre-Dame’s furniture will be restored to its former glory as soon as it opens. New solid oak chairs from Sologne will be installed throughout the cathedral. By June, 700 of them had already been completed! In all, the cathedral will have 1,500 new chairs! As many as before the fire.
As for the liturgical furnishings, which include the baptistery, altar, ambo, tabernacle, cathedra and altar, there will be changes here too. The latter were all designed in bronze at the Barthélémy Art foundry in the Drôme region of France. This is the first time such a material has been used at Notre-Dame! The sacred vases, meanwhile, will be crafted in gold by Atelier d’orfèvrerie Marischael.
5 – The crown of thorns will be installed in a brand-new case
This sacred relic, very important to believers, almost succumbed to the flames. Fortunately, it didn’t! To enhance the crown of thorns and protect it, a new reliquary has been designed. Made of cedar wood (like Christ’s cross) and set with bronze thorns, this sublime openwork reliquary, almost 4 m high, will blend perfectly into the décor without distorting the setting.
6 – The cathedral’s surroundings will be planted with greenery
The 4.7-hectare area around the cathedral, including the forecourt and the two squares next to it, will be completely landscaped. Some 150 trees will be planted to provide shade in summer and refresh the area. The underground parking lot, located beneath the forecourt, will also benefit from a real facelift, becoming an immense 3,000 m² covered promenade. It will feature a café, a bookshop and direct access to the banks of the Seine.
The very first images of the renovation :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6cb8X88j-4
7 – Cathedral towers to be opened this summer
The cathedral‘s towers have been badly damaged since the fire, and are still being restored. But the good news is that they are set to reopen this summer. A brand-new, immersive and sensory tour has also been designed! Tickets for both towers cost 16 euros, compared with 10 euros before the fire.