Following extensive restoration efforts after the tragic fire in April 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen its doors daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7.45 p.m. starting December 2016 this year. Adhering to French law, entry will be free for all visitors.

Bookings for pilgrimage groups will open in March, followed by cultural group bookings in June.

Announcing the reopening details at the Rendez-cous en France Travel Market, the country’s largest international trade show, Olivier Josse, secretary general for the cathedral, anticipates a significant increase in visitors, with projections reaching 15 million annually compared to the previous 10 to 11 million.
Managing such numbers “won’t’ be that easy”, he said, and adding that group visits will be restricted during services and weekends, while electronic queues will facilitate individual entry.

Ceremonial opening events will kick off on December 7, with public access granted from December 10 to 15, primarily for those involved in the restoration effort. Lastly Josse highlighted the cathedral’s splendid interior restoration, while exterior works are set up for continuation into 2028.