One year after its solemn reopening on December 7, 2024, the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris has received more than 11 million people, a figure that far exceeds the 8 to 9 million annually it registered before the fire on April 15, 2019 and represents an increase in attendance of close to 30%. The Gothic symbol par excellence of France is experiencing an unprecedented tourist and spiritual renaissance.
First modification: 07/12/2025 - 17:17
Exactly one year ago, the world held its breath when the bells of Notre-Dame rang again after more than five years of silence. The reopening ceremony, chaired by President Emmanuel Macron and attended by international figures such as Donald Trump, was followed live by millions of people.
Today, 365 days later, the numbers speak for themselves: more than 11 million visitors have crossed its restored doors, as confirmed by those responsible for the cathedral and the Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris public establishment.
“It is a success that exceeds all our expectations,” acknowledges Sybille Bellamy-Brown, head of public reception. “We have received approximately 11 million people, 30% more than before the fire.”
The person in charge emphasizes that, unlike other monuments that take years to recover their influx after a crisis, Notre-Dame has experienced an immediate and sustained effect.
Beyond tourism: a living place of prayer
Notre-Dame has not only regained its status as the most visited monument in Europe, but has also reinforced its identity as a place of worship. This year more than 1,600 masses and services have been celebrated, and more than 650 organized pilgrimages have been registered, a third of them international, according to the AFP agency.
“It's a relatively new phenomenon,” explains Bellamy-Brown. “They come for the Virgin of the Pilar, for the Crown of Thorns, or simply attracted by the values of hope, renewal and resilience that this rebirth represents.”
Precisely the Crown of Thorns, a relic acquired by Saint Louis in 1238, is now exhibited every Friday, when before it was only displayed on the first Friday of each month. A large Provencal Bethlehem crib with more than fifty religious figures will remain installed until February 2, 2026.
The restoration: a titanic and still unfinished work
The 2019 fire destroyed the Viollet-le-Duc spire, the medieval oak “jungle” and much of the roof. The global response was immediate: 843 million euros in donations from 150 countries made it possible to finance what has been one of the largest restoration projects of the 21st century.
Today, visitors discover a brighter cathedral, with cleaned blonde stone, whitewashed vaults and refined furniture that highlights the original Gothic purity.
However, the work is not finished. There are 140 million euros left from the donations, but “at least that same amount is needed to complete everything necessary,” warns the public establishment Rebâtir Notre-Dame.
The building already had structural problems before the fire, and the exterior works will continue beyond 2030, such as the chevet (already underway), the sacristy, the three great roses, transverse facades, and the presbytery.
The Notre-Dame Foundation has launched a new campaign to raise at least an additional €6 million.
The future of the “old lady” of Paris
Despite the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, to establish a 5-euro entrance fee for non-European tourists, individual access remains free, with or without prior reservation.
“The Church's mission of unconditional welcome prevails,” they recall from the archbishopric of Paris. Of course, during the services the flow is regulated to guarantee the tranquility of both the faithful and the visitors.
The cathedral continues to evolve. By the end of 2026, six new figurative stained glass windows created by French artist Claire Tabouret will be installed on the south side, replacing the old 19th-century gray stained glass windows by Viollet-le-Duc. Starting this week, life-size models of these stained glass windows can be seen in the Grand Palais.
Notre-Dame has not only risen from the ashes; has been reborn more alive than ever. A year after its reopening, the “old lady” of Paris demonstrates that, eight and a half centuries after its construction, it is still capable of exciting, bringing together and surprising the entire world.
With AFP and local media
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