Notre Dame

NOTE: After the damage caused by the fire on April 15, 2019, the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral is under construction and visits to its interior have been suspended. Its reopening is expected for the year 2024.

Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris is a Catholic cathedral located on the Île de la Cité, the most central place in Paris where kilometer 0 is located, that is, the starting point of the roads of France.

Notre-Dame is one of the major sites on the banks of the Seine River.

This Parisian monument is one of the main ones in Paris. It is a prominent example of Gothic architecture and stands on the site of a Roman temple to the god Jupiter. Its construction lasted more than 150 years and was completed in 1345.

What to see in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

Due to the fire, two thirds of the interior of the vaulted ceilings were destroyed, the central spire of Viollet-le-Duc completely collapsed and the rose windows were damaged.

The interior of this cathedral with a Latin cross plan is impressive. Its vaulted ceiling, now under construction, is supported by majestic arches and rises almost ten meters high.

Its famous portico represents the day of the final judgment, the statues of the apostles and the Virgin Mary; in the 19th century the rose window that crowns the statue of the Virgin on the west façade was added; the transept rose window, facing south, and the carpentry work in the choir are two of the most beautiful features of this Catholic church located next to the Seine.

the famous gargoyles up close , as well as a spectacular view of the city.

Inside, it has room for more than 6,000 faithful, and in the crypt, there is also an Archaeological Museum that you can visit.

In the outer square there is a bronze statue that marks kilometer zero , from where all distances in France are measured.

A little history

most important events in the history of the city have taken place here , such as the coronation of Henry VI in 1431, the wedding of Queen Mary of Scots in 1558, the coronation of Napoleon and his wife Josephine in 1804 and the canonization of Joan of Arc in 1920.

During the French Revolution the cathedral was desecrated causing tremendous damage to the religious imagery and was later restored to its original appearance.

The Second World War also left its mark on Notre Dame , with the destruction of the stained glass windows, which were remade after the end of the war following a geometric model, instead of the old scenes from the Bible.

Being one of the main places to see in Paris, Notre-Dame is included in the route of many of the most important free tours in Paris. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to learn about its history with an expert guide.

Prices

Admission to Notre Dame Cathedral is free , but you will need to pay for admission to the towers and crypt.

Schedules

From April to September 10.00 am-6.30 pm. From October to March 10.00 am-5.30 pm

Address

6 Place du Parvis Notre Dame

How to get

Metro line 4, Cité station / RER: lines B and C Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station / Buses: 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85, 96