Notre-Dame de Paris

About Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame stands on the Île de la Cité in the Seine, at the very heart of Paris. Building began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely finished by 1260. It's considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic, a pioneer of rib vaults and flying buttresses, the stone arches that support the tall walls from outside.

Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame sparked huge interest in the cathedral, leading to its restoration in 1844–1864 under architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added the famous chimeras on the gallery and the spire. After a new major restoration, the cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024.

What to see in the cathedral

• The west façade — three sculpted portals and a rose window.
• The rose windows — huge round windows in the transepts.
• The nave — bright after restoration.
• The chimeras — stone creatures on the tower gallery.
• The flying buttresses — seen from behind the cathedral.
• The organs — three of them, one historic.

The façade, roses and chimeras

The west façade with its two square towers is the cathedral's most recognisable view. Its three portals are covered in hundreds of sculptures, the Last Judgement, the Virgin and St Anne, beneath a gallery of kings. A round rose window sits at the centre, and inside two more huge rose windows in the transepts fill the cathedral with coloured light.

On the gallery between the towers perch the famous chimeras, stone monsters and birds gazing over the city. Added during the 19th-century restoration, they've become a symbol of Paris. Climbing the towers brings you face to face with them, the bells and the rooftops of the Île de la Cité.

The Île de la Cité around it

See the cathedral from all sides. In front of the façade is a large square marking Point Zéro, the spot from which all French road distances are measured. Behind it, Square Jean-XXIII reveals the flying buttresses and apse, and the quays and bridges offer classic views of the cathedral above the water.

Nearby on the island is the Sainte-Chapelle with its 13th-century stained glass, and a bridge leads to the Île Saint-Louis with its quiet streets and famous ice cream. The cathedral is floodlit at night, and a walk around the island's quays is one of the loveliest in Paris.

Tips for your visit

Come at opening time or towards evening, when there are fewer visitors. Small bags are allowed through a security check. Dress modestly, as it's a working church, and photograph without flash.

To hear the organ, attend a Sunday service or one of the concerts listed on the cathedral's website. Afterwards, walk across the island to the Sainte-Chapelle and over the bridge to the Île Saint-Louis.

Children enjoy spotting the chimeras and studying the portal sculptures. The tower climb is long and up a narrow staircase, so it can be hard for little ones.

Places in Paris: compare and choose

Places in Paris rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Nearby and on the way

51

Shakespeare and Company

Paris, France

30 min · Free · 4 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Shakespeare and Company

51

Île de la Cité

Paris, France

2 h 30 min · Free, it's a city island · 4 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Île de la Cité

56

Hôtel de Ville

Paris, France

30 min · Square free, halls by tour · 7 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Hôtel de Ville

57

Sainte-Chapelle

Paris, France

1 h · Timed ticket, online · 8 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Sainte-Chapelle

How to do it right

• Free timed booking online.
• Towers on a separate ticket.
• Buttresses from behind.
• Dress modestly.

Questions