Notre โคDame Towers Reopen, Offering First Public Views Since 2019 Fire
PARIS – Theโ towers of Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to โคthe public today, offering visitorsโค their first glimpse of Parisโข from the iconic landmark since the devastating 2019 fire. French President Emmanuel macronโ was the โคfirst to tour โฃthe restored towers, including the famed Cathedralโค Chimeras – the grotesque sculptures of mythical beasts adorning the exteriorโ walls.
The reopening marks โa โsignificant milestone in theโข cathedral’s ongoing reconstruction, allowingโค limited numbers of visitors to experience a 45-minute โtour encompassing theโ southern and northernโค towers, the bell โขtower, and terraces with views of theโ city. “The towers ofโ Our Lady of the Cathedral open the door to society again,” Macron wrote on X (formerlyโ Twitter). He added, “The cathedral has regained its entire radiance and offers remarkable images of Paris again.”
Tickets for the โtower access cost โฌ16 and must โคbe purchased online,โ with only 19 people permitted per tour.The initial two-day allocation of tickets sold โฃout within 24 minutes. While access toโ the cathedral itself remains free, the tower โvisitsโ represent a new phase in welcoming theโข public back toโ the historic site.
Philippe Joss, the reconstruction manager appointedโข 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 โthe towers is a key step โtoward โคfull restoration, thoughโข work continues โon the eastern โend of the cathedral.