# Notre-Dame de Paris > Notre-Dame de Paris is a Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, a symbol of Paris and one of the finest examples of French Gothic. Building began in 1163 and was largely complete by 1260. It has huge rose windows, flying buttresses, hundreds of sculptures and the famous chimeras, and Victor Hugo's novel made it known worldwide. It reopened after restoration in December 2024. Entry is free; allow about an hour. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/notre-dame-de-paris - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 74/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; optional timed booking - Hours: Daily by day - Time needed: About an hour - Towers: Climb on a separate ticket - Built: 1163–1260 - Location: Île de la Cité, 4th arrondissement - Coordinates: 48.85300, 2.34980 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1163** — construction began (source: English Wikipedia) - **1260** — largely completed (source: English Wikipedia) - **1831** — Hugo's novel about the cathedral appeared (source: English Wikipedia) - **December 2024** — reopened after restoration (source: English Wikipedia) ## 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. > **Getting inside** Entry is free, but the queue at the portal can be long in season. You can book a free timed entry on the cathedral's official website and barely wait at all. The tower climb is a separate paid, timed ticket. Parts of the cathedral close to tourists during services. ## 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. ## How to get there 1. Metro line 4 to **Cité**, a 5-minute walk. 2. RER B or C to **Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame**. 3. On foot from the Louvre along the Seine, about 20 minutes. 4. The Batobus river shuttle stops at Notre-Dame. ## 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. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Book a timed entry on the website - [ ] Study the west façade portals - [ ] See the rose windows inside - [ ] Walk round to the flying buttresses - [ ] Find Point Zéro on the square ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Notre-Dame de Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/notre-dame-de-paris) — YesGo score 74/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free; optional timed booking - [Sacré-Cœur Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/sacre-coeur) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Basilica free - [Sainte-Chapelle](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/sainte-chapelle) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Timed ticket, online - [La Madeleine](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/la-madeleine) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free - [Saint-Sulpice](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/saint-sulpice) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free - [Saint-Germain-des-Prés](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/saint-germain-des-pres) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Quarter and church free ## Don't mix it up Notre-Dame is the cathedral on the Île de la Cité; the Sacré-Cœur is the white basilica on Montmartre hill in the north of the city. ## Tips - Free timed booking online. - Towers on a separate ticket. - Buttresses from behind. - Dress modestly. ## Questions ### Is Notre-Dame open? Yes, it reopened after restoration in December 2024. ### How much does Notre-Dame cost? Entry to the cathedral is free; the tower climb is paid. ### Do I need to book? Not necessarily, but a free timed booking saves queuing. ### When was the cathedral built? From 1163, largely completed by 1260. ### How long do you need at Notre-Dame? About an hour, more with the towers. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Hours and entry rules weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Notre-Dame de Paris - Official website, notredamedeparis.fr --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.