In short
Founded in the twelfth century and celebrated by Victor Hugo, Notre-Dame Cathedral is a symbolic monument of French history. Characterized by its imposing twin-towered façade and its famous fluvial-aerial buttresses, its monumental Gothic structure has returned to its splendor after the gigantic and meticulous reconstruction work following the tragic fire of 2019.
Period: 12th century
Architecture: Classical Parisian Gothic
Function: Metropolitan Cathedral metroNational Monument
Best time: early in the morning to avoid queues on the churchyard
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Notre-Dame opening hours and prices
Here's all the useful information about opening hours so you don't get caught unprepared in the churchyard. Remember that simple access to the Cathedral is absolutely free.
Times and masses
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Mon - Fri 7:50 - 19:00
Closes at 10pm on Thursday
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Sat - Sun 08:15 - 19:30
Last admission 30 minutes before
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Masses from Monday to Saturday 8:00, 12:00, 18:00
Rosaries, vespers and adorations are also planned
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Sunday Masses 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 18:00
Lauds and vespers are also planned
What to see in Notre-Dame
Let yourself be overwhelmed by the majesty of a thousand-year-old sacred space where medieval stone meets the perfection of colored light.
Zero Point (Square in front) Curiosities
It is used as a reference for calculating distances to other cities in France
The three large historiated rose windows
Observe the monumental 13th-century glass circles that filter natural light.
The rebuilt Spire (Flèche)
Look skyward to admire the faithful reconstruction of the famous 19th-century wooden spire.
The Gargoyles and the Chimeras
Spot the iconic stone monsters watching over the city from the upper balustrades.
The Cathedral Treasury
Explore the internal exhibition space that houses the surviving sacred furnishings and liturgical objects.
The visit to Notre-Dame
Clear and concise guidelines to help you before queuing in front of the Île de la Cité.
Best moment
Open in the morning to enjoy the silence and less tourist pressure.
Crowding
Extremely high in any season; flows are constant and intense.
Suitable for children
Yes, the majesty of the spaces and the stories about the bell ringers are very fascinating to the younger ones.
What not to miss
A close-up view of the north rose window, whose original glass is almost completely intact.
Type of experience
Exciting, deeply historical, artistic and rich in symbolic value.
What to expect
Strict security measures, long queues in the churchyard and a beautifully cleaned interior.
How to visit Notre-Dame
Access to the cathedral is via the large pedestrian square in front (Place Jean-Paul II).
Need to know
- The construction took almost two centuries, from 1163 to 1345.
- Napoleon Bonaparte chose this cathedral to crown himself Emperor of the French in 1804.
- The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc directed a massive restoration in the 19th century, inventing the famous chimeras.
- The cross vault structure saved the building from collapse during the 2019 fire.
Practical advice
- Download the cathedral's official app to your phone to monitor access in real time.
- Keep an eye on your belongings in the churchyard outside: large crowds attract pickpockets.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the pavement around the river island requires long stretches of walking.
- Please remember that inside the nave it is mandatory to remove hats and maintain decorous behavior.
How to get to Notre-Dame
The cathedral stands on the Île de la Cité, in the geographical and historical heart of central Paris.
Line 4 stops at Cité station, a three-minute walk from the square. Alternatively, lines 1 and 11 stop at Hôtel de Ville, just across the bridge.
Lines B and C serve the Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station, whose entrances open on the opposite bank of the river.
Lines 21, 38, 47, 75 and 96 stop right in front of the monument or along the adjacent bridges.
Cross the Pont d'Arcole starting from the right bank or the Pont au Double arriving from the left bank.
6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004
Official Transport Paris
- Paris Metro Map
- RER tickets and fares
- Taxis in Paris (numbers and alternatives)
History of Notre Dame
In 1163, Bishop Maurice de Sully began construction of the immense new cathedral of Paris, demolishing the previous Merovingian basilica, which had become too small for the rapidly expanding city. The construction site became an immense medieval laboratory where the most innovative Gothic techniques were experimented with, such as the systematic use of flying buttresses to support the very high, thin walls.
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Over the following centuries, the church was the setting for the nation's most important dynastic and political events. However, with the advent of the eighteenth century and Neoclassicism, tastes changed, and many medieval furnishings were removed or heavily altered. The hardest blow came with the French Revolution: the cathedral was ransacked, the statues of the kings on the façade beheaded by the mob, and the interior was used as a food storehouse and the Temple of Reason.
By the early 19th century, the cathedral was in a state of serious disrepair. It was saved by the 1831 publication of Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris, which moved public opinion and prompted the government to finance a colossal restoration project. The task was entrusted to the young architect Viollet-le-Duc, who rebuilt the central spire and added the famous sculptural arrangement of chimeras on the towers, defining the monument's Parisian image.
During the twentieth century, the cathedral survived both world wars unscathed, becoming the site of the celebration of the Liberation of Paris in 1944. On 15 April 2019, a devastating fire broke out in the attic, destroying the medieval wooden carpentry (the “forest”) and causing the nineteenth-century spire to collapse, keeping the entire world in suspense.
The response of the state and international donors sparked a reconstruction effort unprecedented in modern architectural history. Hundreds of artisans, carpenters, and restorers worked tirelessly to clean the blackened stones and faithfully reconstruct the collapsed structures, finally returning this immense universal heritage to the city and the entire world.
Curiosities about Notre-Dame
Extraordinary anecdotes and little secrets linked to the thousand-year life of the Parisian cathedral.
The Swapped Heads: The revolutionaries destroyed the statues on the facade, believing them to represent the kings of France, when in reality they were the kings of Judah from the Bible. Twenty-one of these original heads were rediscovered in 1977 and are now housed in the Musée de Cluny.
The wooden forest: the roof destroyed in the fire was called “the forest” because to build it in the thirteenth century an entire forest of about twenty-one hectares of ancient oak trees had to be cut down.
The miracle bees: On the roof of the sacristy were three hives managed by a Parisian beekeeper. Despite the intense heat and smoke of the 2019 fire, the bees miraculously survived.
The invented monster: The famous gargoyles have served as gutters for rainwater since the Middle Ages, but the most famous pensive monsters (the chimeras) were invented and added in the 19th century by the restorer Viollet-le-Duc to give a more dramatic touch.
Notre Dame Tickets and Tours
Find accommodation near Notre-Dame
Don't have much time to scroll through the interactive map and see the features of each accommodation? Then read our quick guide to the best accommodations near Notre Dame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory to book online to enter, or can I just queue up?
Booking a time slot through the official app or website is highly recommended to avoid the miles-long lines in the churchyard, which can exceed two hours during peak season. Free spots are assigned on the spot, but waits can be very long.
Do security checks at the entrance accept travel backpacks and heavy luggage?
Airport-style security checks with metal detectors are in place at the entrance . Small backpacks and personal bags are permitted, but bulky suitcases, trolleys, travel bags, or strollers are strictly prohibited. There is no storage or cloakroom service within themetro church
Can I take photos inside and of the restored rose windows?
Yes, photography for strictly personal, non-profit purposes is permitted throughout the central nave and along the ambulatory. However, the use of flash, additional lights, tripods, or selfie sticks is strictly prohibited, to avoid damaging the materials and obstructing the constant flow of visitors.
Is it possible to climb the towers of the facade to see the gargoyles up close?
Access to the upper towers and the Gallery of Chimeras requires a separate reservation from the church entrance. Attendance is limited due to the narrow medieval spiral staircases, and tickets are subject to limited daily availability.
Is there an internal heating system during the winter season?
The cathedral's colossal size makes it very difficult to fully heat the nave. In winter, the temperature inside is very similar to the outside, so it's recommended to keep coats, scarves, and gloves on throughout the visit to avoid feeling the cold. If you have concerns or concerns about cold temperatures, read our in-depth article on visiting Paris in winter.
How can I light a candle inside the church?
Along the side aisles and near the chapels of the ambulatory, there are numerous metal displays containing traditional votive candles. You can take one by leaving a coin offering in the secure automatic drop-off boxes located next to the pews.
Is the cathedral fully accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, the main entrance on the western façade has no steps and a flat ramp that allows easy wheelchair access. The entire central nave and ambulatory are level and barrier-free, except for the underground archaeological routes and the climb to the towers.
How far is the cathedral from the nearest RER station?
The RER B and C station "Saint-Michel Notre-Dame" is located directly opposite the river island. Exiting the underground passages, simply cross the Pont au Double to find yourself on the main square in less than three minutes' walk.
