Five years after a fire destroyed France’s historic cathedral, the Notre Dame de Paris is preparing to reopen its doors to the public.

On Saturday, December 7, the cathedral’s opening day, French President Emanuel Macron will be in attendance to mark what is “a form of renaissance of the building”.

One day later, on Sunday 8 December, the first mass will be celebrated.

Aware of the international scope that the inauguration ceremony will take on, the head of the Fifth French Republic will deliver a fairly short speech, demonstrating the importance of the reopening of The Notre Dame de Paris, as the French newspaper Le Figaro comments.

In addition, he is expected to express his heartfelt gratitude to the builders and all those who contributed to the restoration of the cathedral in record time.

However, contrary to the suggestions of some of his interlocutors, the French president will deliver his speech “in the square” of the cathedral, a fact confirmed today by the Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Ulrich.

What the reopening of Notre Dame means for France

With 15 million visitors a year, the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is considered one of the French capital’s top attractions. It is both a place of worship and a monument, bearing witness to the history of Paris since its construction.

Designed courtyard, flow reservations, tour

The reopening will be accompanied by a number of new features like a completely redesigned courtyard and a tour route to discover the renovated treasures.

In addition, a free booking system will be set up through a special application, which will be accessible in a few days.

A special queue will be created for those wishing to pray or attend the service, although waiting may be necessary depending on the volume of traffic.

Ticket issue open

For now, entry will be free. A ticket is required to access the vault, a separate area that houses functional and historical artifacts. However, admission can be gained for a fee.

This was called for in an earlier statement by France’s culture minister, Rashida Dati, in Le Figaro, stressing that charging for entrance to Notre Dame would save all of France’s churches. The price of the ticket is estimated at 5 euros.

However, the minister was quick to clarify that the ticket is not related to the cathedral’s liturgies and services.

If admission to Notre Dame de Paris were charged, access to these religious ceremonies should be free.

The courtyard and the three thematic routes

The courtyard has been redesigned to provide a more welcoming, plant-filled space with facilities for visitors and worshippers.

This transformation aims to make the experience of Notre Dame more spiritual, allowing visitors to enjoy the renovated environment around this monument.

Visitors will be able to admire the restored bell tower as well as the roof of the nave and choir.

Three themed guided tours will be offered, each of which will allow visitors to discover different aspects of the cathedral, from its religious heritage to its works of art.

Full guided tours and group access will be available from June 2025.