Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral to Reopen Next Month Following 2019 Fire

The famed landmark will reopen on Dec. 7.

By Michael Cappetta Michael Cappetta

Michael Cappetta is a travel writer with over 10 years of experience in journalism and television news. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 21, 2024

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Notre Dame of Paris will soon re-open its doors. 

After being closed since 2019 due to a devastating fire, the landmark will welcome visitors once again on next month, starting Dec. 7.

“The cathedral’s teams are mobilized to make the ceremonies for the reopening of Notre Dame on Dec. 7 and 8, moments of joy, peace and fraternity in which as many people as possible can take part,” the cathedral’s website states. 

The re-opening event will be invitation-only, and will also be televised and streamed on social media for international visitors and those who were unable to secure access to the event. 

Officials from the Notre Dame of Paris anticipate that over 15 million people will visit the cathedral in the first year of reopening. In an effort to streamline and modernize the visiting process with the surge, the cathedral will soon release an online booking site where visitors can register for a booking time slot.

The cathedral will also be available for walk-in visitors, but the lines may be long, according to the cathedral's website. Looking ahead, the cathedral will have a staggered public opening for visitors looking to see the cathedral since its restoration following the fire. 

“During the first six months, until Pentecost 2025 (Sunday June 8, 2025), access will be restricted to individual visitors and worshippers, with group visits allowed only after this period,” the Cathedral shared.

Notre Dame of Paris caught fire in April 2019, when it was under construction for extensive renovation work. The massive fire closed the historic site as architects and builders carefully repaired and restored the site.

The cathedral's progress has been documented on the cathedral’s website, where they recently celebrated the return of “Our Lady of Paris”, a statue of Mary and Jesus that was "miraculously spared" during the fire. The famed landmark is located on an island in the River Seine within the heart of Paris.