Quick Answer
Yes, you need tickets to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, receiving over 12 million visitors per year. Since the devastating fire in April 2019, access to the cathedral has been limited for safety reasons during the restoration process. All visitors must secure timed-entry tickets in advance online prior to their visit.
Ticketing Rules for Notre Dame
Here are some key things to know about Notre Dame tickets:
- Tickets must be booked in advance online – they are not sold onsite.
- Tickets are date-specific and time-slotted.
- Admission is free, but there is a small booking fee.
- Tickets often sell out weeks or months in advance, especially in peak season.
- Children under 11 years old do not need a ticket.
- Security screening is required to enter with a valid ticket.
The pre-booking system allows the authorities to control the flow of visitors to Notre Dame in the wake of the fire damage. It helps manage crowd sizes for safety and protects the fragile state of the cathedral during the restoration process, which is estimated to take until 2024 to complete.
Here is an overview of how to book tickets to visit Notre Dame:
How to Get Tickets to Notre Dame
- Visit the official Notre Dame ticketing website and create an account – https://www.ticketoffice.paris.fr/en/event/visit-notre-dame-cathedral
- Select your desired date and time slot for your visit.
- Proceed through the booking steps and make your free ticket reservations.
- Check your email for your e-ticket confirmation.
- Present your ticket at the cathedral on the day for entry.
Tickets can be booked up to 60 days in advance of your intended visit date. Depending on demand, you may need to be flexible with your date choice to find availability. Peak times, such as summer and holidays, sell out the fastest.
Some key tips when booking your Notre Dame tickets:
– Only a limited number of tickets are released for each time slot. Book early to secure a spot.
– Pay close attention to your selected time slot. The entry window is only 15 minutes long.
– Double check your tickets after booking and before visiting to avoid problems.
– Print your tickets or have them available on your mobile device when you arrive to enter.
– There are no re-entries allowed once inside. Make sure you have enough time to see what you want.
– Children under 11 years old do not need a ticket but must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
What You Can See at Notre Dame Now
Notre Dame sustained severe damage during the April 2019 fire, which caused the roof and central spire to collapse. While substantial parts of the cathedral’s interior were unharmed by the blaze, ongoing restoration efforts mean that visitors have limited access compared to pre-fire.
Here are some key things you can expect to see on a visit today:
- The impressive facade, towers and outer walls of the cathedral. The iconic front view is intact.
- The nave, aisles and transepts – the interior is largely undamaged but there is stabilization work underway.
- Artwork and artifacts that were saved from the fire damage.
- The Crossing area beneath the fallen spire and roof is closed off but visible.
- Educational displays about the fire, damage and restoration efforts.
- Temporary supporting structures in place for stabilization during reconstruction.
Parts currently closed include the Treasury, towers, roof areas and archaeological crypt. The visit focuses on the key architectural elements and expansive interior space. Guided tours and ceiling climbing experiences are also paused for now.
Work is actively underway to restore Notre Dame to its former glory. The French government has set an ambitious 5-year timeline and budget of over $150 million dollars for the project.
Opening Hours
Notre Dame is open 9am-6pm daily, with last entry at 5:15pm.
However, opening days and hours may vary due to closures for restoration work and events. Check the website close to your visit for updated calendars.
The cathedral receives over 12 million visitors annually, making it one of France’s most visited landmarks. Peak times are in the summer months between July-September.
Your ticket will designate a 15-minute arrival window during open hours. Be sure to plan your visit to Paris accordingly to be on time.
Security and Bag Rules
All visitors are required to pass through a security screening checkpoint before entering Notre Dame. Baggage items may be inspected.
To avoid issues, be prepared for airport-level restrictions:
- Larger bags, suitcases and backpacks are not allowed.
- Small purses and bags must be less than 30cm x 15cm.
- Food and liquids cannot be brought inside.
- Other prohibited items include glass containers, selfie sticks, tripods, drones, soccer balls, large cameras with long lenses, pets, etc.
Visitors should plan to travel lightly when visiting major attractions in Paris like Notre Dame. Free bag checks may be available nearby if travelling with extra items.
Security staff have the right to deny entry to those with non-compliant bags or prohibited items that cannot be checked.
Guided Tours
Guided tours of Notre Dame Cathedral are temporarily suspended during the restoration process.
Pre-fire, various walking, bike, Segway and boat tour operators included the cathedral as a stopping point on their Paris itineraries. But the limited indoor access means fewer tour groups currently include Notre Dame.
Visitors who want a guided experience can consider multi-stop tours of Paris’s Latin Quarter neighborhood. These explore the historical streets around the cathedral exterior without entering.
When Notre Dame reopens fully after restoration, guided tours will likely resume. For now, visitors are limited to self-guided, audio-guided or photo-stop tours from the outside.
Nearby Attractions
Notre Dame Cathedral is located on the Île de la Cité island in the heart of Paris’s exciting Latin Quarter district.
Within walking distance, you can explore these other top attractions nearby after visiting the cathedral:
Attraction | Distance |
---|---|
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore | 200 meters (1 min walk) |
Palais de Justice | 700 meters (9 min walk) |
Pont de l’Archevêché Bridge | 100 meters (1 min walk) |
Saint-Chappelle | 400 meters (6 min walk) |
La Conciergerie | 500 meters (7 min walk) |
Musée du Louvre | 1.1 km (14 min walk) |
Luxembourg Gardens | 1.6 km (21 min walk) |
Panthéon | 1.3 km (17 min walk) |
There are also scenic Seine River boat tours, lively local cafes, shops and street markets within a short stroll of Notre Dame Cathedral.
The surrounding streets showcase charming medieval architecture and cobblestones that evoke the area’s history spanning back to ancient Roman times. Visitors could easily spend several days fully exploring the Latin Quarter by foot.
Accessibility at Notre Dame
Notre Dame aims to be accessible and welcoming to all visitors, but some challenges exist given the medieval design and current state of repair:
– There are multiple steps to enter the cathedral without ramps.
– No elevators or lifts provide upper level access. Stairs are the only option.
– Narrow spiral staircases to towers are impossible for wheelchairs and strollers.
– Uneven ancient flooring includes tripping hazards.
– Low lighting creates visibility issues.
– Scaffolding and construction equipment provide further obstacles.
Visitors with impaired mobility or other access requirements should prepare in advance. Having a companion along to assist navigating the historic building is advisable. Guide dogs are permitted inside the cathedral.
Restoration plans include improved accessibility upgrades to better welcome diverse visitors. But the structure’s age and protected status limit changes that can be made. Even after renovations, Notre Dame will likely still present challenges requiring visitor caution.
Photography Allowed?
Photography is permitted inside Notre Dame Cathedral for personal, non-commercial use. Here are some key photography guidelines to follow:
– No flash, tripods or selfie sticks allowed.
– Try not to include restoration equipment in frame.
– Be mindful not to block foot traffic or disturb others.
– Capturing images of church services or music performances is restricted.
– Take care not to damage any artifacts or interior elements.
Due to the religious nature of parts of Notre Dame, be respectful by avoiding photography of people praying or clergy at work unless you have express permission.
Exterior photography is unlimited from public areas outside the church. Capturing Notre Dame’s gothic facade from front plazas makes for classic Parisian scenes and memories.
While you can take photos inside for private enjoyment, commercial photography sessions require special authorization. Contact the cathedral management in advance for approval and permits if you wish to use professional cameras or drones for commercial purposes.
Dress Code and Etiquette
Notre Dame Cathedral is still an active Catholic church and place of worship. Visitors should dress appropriately and maintain respectful behavior while inside:
- Ensure shoulders and knees are covered. No sleeveless or short clothing.
- Avoid loud talking or disruptive behavior.
- Don’t enter cordoned off or restricted areas.
- Refrain from eating or drinking inside.
- No smoking permitted.
- Silence all mobile devices and electronics.
Travelers should also be mindful not to interrupt any religious services, mass, weddings, or funerals that may be taking place during open hours.
As a functioning church, Notre Dame does not allow tour guides to give commentary on the interior during religious ceremonies. Visitors may be asked to return at a different time if any are underway when they arrive.
By following proper etiquette, we can protect Notre Dame’s sanctity as a revered place of Catholic worship while safely allowing public access.
History of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cathedral has stood tall above Paris since the 12th century, though various churches have existed on the site since the Merovingian period:
- 4th century AD – A Gallo-Roman temple stood on the Île de la Cité island dedicated to Jupiter.
- 6th century – The first church was built, Saint-Étienne.
- 1025-1250 – Several churches occupied the site until Notre Dame construction began.
- 1163-1345 – The cathedral was built in the Gothic style over 180 years.
- 1789 – Damage and vandalism occurred during the French Revolution.
- 1831-1864 – Restoration by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc returned Notre Dame to grandeur.
- 2019 – A devastating fire destroyed the roof and spire but left the church intact.
- 2024 – Estimated completion of current restoration efforts.
Some key facts about Notre Dame:
– It is 130 meters long and 48 meters tall to the roofline.
– The tower rooftops stand 69 meters above the ground.
– Remains of the original altar from the 8th century sit below the cathedral.
– 10 bells ring from the towers during major events. The largest, Emmanuel, weighs 13 tons.
– Stained glass rose windows date to the 13th century while the organ has over 8000 pipes.
Notre Dame has borne witness to many major moments in history and survived troubled times across 850 years, solidifying its status as an iconic Paris landmark.
Future of Notre Dame
The tragic 2019 fire left much of the world fearing Notre Dame Cathedral could be lost forever. But thanks to the efforts of over 500 skilled workers, the church remains standing, protected, and actively under repair.
Work is underway to restore Notre Dame to its prior beauty according to strict historical accuracy. New fireproof materials and preventative measures aim to prevent any repeat of the blaze.
The biggest challenge is recreating the incredibly intricate roof structure known as “the forest” that was destroyed by the flames. Teams of carpenters use traditional techniques to reproduce each of the 1300 ancient oak beams by hand.
The French President set an ambitious 5-year timeline for the complete restoration. If all goes to plan, Notre Dame Cathedral could reopen with repaired roof and spire by 2024.
In the future, improved visitor facilities and accessibility upgrades will provide better access and safety. But the cathedral’s original Gothic splendor and decor will be painstakingly reinstated for generations to come.
The world eagerly awaits the resurrection of this resilient world wonder to stand strong over Paris once more. Though changed by its trials, Notre Dame will remain a celebrated historic icon.
Conclusion
Visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral is a must for any first-time traveler to Paris. As one of the city’s most legendary landmarks, it makes for an impactful and memorable experience.
Due to damage from the devastating 2019 fire, access is now limited by strict ticketing rules. But the ability to admire the elegant Gothic architecture inside remains an awe-inspiring privilege.
Notre Dame has endured over eight centuries of history, and will continue welcoming visitors from across the globe when restored in coming years. By respecting the required protocols today, we can protect this treasured church for the future.
The extensive restoration process is painstaking but progressing steadily to revive Notre Dame to its original glory. While the visit will look different than before for now, you are witnessing living history during a poignant moment in the cathedral’s grand story.
When it reopens fully in 2024, the triumphant return of Notre Dame Cathedral will be a beautiful moment representing human resilience and hope. This icon of Paris continues standing proudly through any troubles it has faced across the centuries, to be handed down proudly to coming generations.