Nearly five years after the devastating fire of April 2019, the world-famous Notre-Dame de Paris is about to reopen its doors to the public.
From 8 December 2024, visitors will be able to enter the iconic cathedral, which will return to its original glory after an intensive restoration. This reopening marks a significant moment in the history of the monument, which has been in the spotlight of global recovery since the tragedy.
The restoration project of Notre Dame is one of the largest and most complex construction projects of this century. Reconstruction began immediately after the fire in 2019, with hundreds of craftsmen, architects and experts working to save and restore the building. One of the most symbolic elements of the cathedral, the spire – also known as the “flèche” – has been completely rebuilt and was already visible to the public last summer, despite the fact that the full restoration was not completed in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
In the weeks leading up to the reopening, the final works are being completed. The famous organ with its 8.000 pipes is being restored, and work is being done on cleaning the walls and restoring the choir vault. This process, which combines tradition and modernity, has not only restored the cathedral to its historic splendor, but has also equipped it with modern features, including an advanced fire protection system, specially developed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy of 2019.
The restoration of Notre Dame has become a global symbol of craftsmanship and perseverance. The images of the fire, which left the world in shock, have now been replaced by the hopeful sight of a resurrected cathedral. For those who can’t wait for the official reopening, a special immersive experience can be enjoyed on the square in front of Notre Dame. The virtual reality experience “Eternelle Notre Dame” gives visitors a unique glimpse behind the scenes of the restoration and allows them to admire the Gothic splendor of the monument up close, as if they were wandering through its centuries-old corridors.
Minister of Culture Rachida Dati has her vision shared about introducing an entrance fee for tourists who want to visit the world-famous Notre-Dame de Paris. According to Dati, it is time for France to fall into line with other European countries, where visitors usually pay a fee to enter religious monuments. The minister emphasizes that this contribution will be specifically aimed at tourists, especially those coming from countries outside the European Union, such as the United States and Brazil.
Dati believes that tourists from such countries often have more to spend than local visitors, making it neither unreasonable nor illegitimate to ask them to pay a fee for their visit to Notre Dame. “We could ask for a symbolic amount, say five euros per visitor, and that could generate between 75 and 100 million euros per year,” Dati said in an interview. This revenue would not only benefit the upkeep of Notre Dame itself, but would also contribute to the restoration of thousands of other religious buildings in France, many of which are in poor condition.
The idea of paid admission has support from some other members of the French government, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. However, not everyone agrees with the proposal. Many clergy and cultural experts believe that admission to religious buildings should remain free. Didier Rykner, art historian and founder of the website *Tribune de l'Art*, argues that churches like Notre-Dame should remain a place that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. “A church is a place that should remain open to everyone, and its art treasures should remain accessible to everyone,” Rykner says.
Even within the church itself, there are mixed feelings about the proposal. While some clergy recognize that funds are needed to preserve religious buildings, others stress that the church must remain accessible to both the faithful and tourists. This debate ensures that the reopening of Notre Dame is not just a celebration of restoration, but also a symbol of the broader struggle to preserve cultural heritage.
On Saturday evening, December 7, 2024, the renovated organ of Notre-Dame will sound for the first time during the official ceremony marking its reopening. The doors will open to the public a day later. The world is eagerly awaiting this moment, when Notre-Dame will once again take its place as the cultural and religious heart of Paris. Whether visitors will have to pay to admire this world-famous monument in the future will become clear in the coming months.
