Notre Dame Towers Reopen, Offering First Public Views Since 2019 Fire
PARIS – The towers of Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to the public today, offering visitors their first glimpse of Paris from the iconic landmark since the devastating 2019 fire. French President Emmanuel macron was the first to tour the restored towers, including the famed Cathedral Chimeras – the grotesque sculptures of mythical beasts adorning the exterior walls.
The reopening marks a significant milestone in the cathedral’s ongoing reconstruction, allowing limited numbers of visitors to experience a 45-minute tour encompassing the southern and northern towers, the bell tower, and terraces with views of the city. “The towers of Our Lady of the Cathedral open the door to society again,” Macron wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added, “The cathedral has regained its entire radiance and offers remarkable images of Paris again.”
Tickets for the tower access cost €16 and must be purchased online, with only 19 people permitted per tour.The initial two-day allocation of tickets sold out within 24 minutes. While access to the cathedral itself remains free, the tower visits represent a new phase in welcoming the public back to the historic site.
Philippe Joss, the reconstruction manager appointed by Macron, noted the tour route existed prior to the fire but has been “greatly improved in many ways,” including new viewing points and visitor spaces. The reopening of the towers is a key step toward full restoration, though work continues on the eastern end of the cathedral.