Notre-Dame de Paris
Paris’s great Gothic cathedral, reopened in 2024 after restoration following the 2019 fire.
Notre-Dame de Paris, begun in 1163 on the Île de la Cité, is the city's great Gothic cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. Its twin-towered west front, flying buttresses and rose windows made it a model for Gothic architecture, and it has hosted coronations, royal weddings and national ceremonies for more than eight centuries.
A fire in April 2019 destroyed the roof and the 19th-century spire designed by Viollet-le-Duc. After a five-year restoration the cathedral reopened in December 2024 with a rebuilt spire and cleaned interior. Entry is still free, and the cathedral runs a weekly sacred music series and organ recitals.
Highlights
- West facade with its three sculpted portals
- Medieval rose windows
- Rebuilt spire and restored roof timbers
- Grand organ and weekly Musique Sacrée concerts