Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris stands on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement, at 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, in the heart of the Île-de-France capital. Begun in 1163, it is a defining work of French Gothic architecture, and it reopened to visitors in December 2024 after the 2019 fire and a long restoration of the roof, spire and interior. Visitors enter through the west front, whose three portals carry carved scenes of the Last Judgement and the Virgin, below the Gallery of Kings and the twin towers. Inside, the pale restored stone of the nave leads past side chapels to the transept, where the three great rose windows, the north rose retaining much of its 13th-century glass, glow in the light. The choir, the Pietà behind the high altar and the contemporary liturgical furnishings are further stops. The tower climb, which requires a separate timed ticket, leads to the gargoyle gallery and close views of the spire and the Paris skyline. Outside, the best views of the flying buttresses and the spire come from the Square Jean XXIII garden behind the cathedral, and from the Seine quays on the Left Bank opposite. Beneath the parvis, the Crypte archéologique displays Roman and medieval remains. A visit to the interior usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, or one to two hours with a tower climb. Crowds peak between late morning and late afternoon, particularly in summer; early morning from 08:00 is quieter and the low light suits the interior. Entry to the cathedral is free, and a free online reservation system allows visitors to choose a slot and skip the standing queue on the parvis. Mass and services take place daily, and areas may close to sightseeing during them.