Notre Dame’s Monumental Reopening – Not to Be Missed
Five Years After
In April of 2015, after the devastating fire of Notre Dame, Emmanuel Macron promised the people of Paris that their beloved cathedral, the edifice that is both the geographical and symbolical heart of Paris, would be restored within 5 years. He said it would come back to life “more beautiful than ever”. During this upcoming weekend, December 7 th and 8 th , we will get to see if this promise has been fulfilled. Read on to find out how and when to witness the rebirth of Notre Dame, which is within walking distance of Apartments du Louvre.
The official ceremony will begin around 5:30 PM on Saturday, December 7th . (This part is by invitation only, but it will be televised). President Macron, as representative of the French State, will officially hand over the property to its assignee, the Catholic Church, represented by Monseigneur Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris. The Archbishop will knock 3 times with his staff on the massive central door of the Cathedral and the Choir will respond to him each time by singing Psalm 121. A celebration of vespers will follow the dramatic, long-awaited entrance. Starting at 9:00 PM, a free public outdoor concert will be given featuring French singers Clara Luciani and Vianney, Chinese classical pianist Lang Lang, South African soprano Pretty Yende, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Angelique Kidjo and others. On Sunday, December 8 th at 10:30, the inaugural Mass and consecration of the high altar with take place, also in the presence of the President. According to the official website www.notredamedeparis.fr, Mass will be followed by a “fraternal buffet”.
The first opportunity for the public to visit the interior of Notre Dame will be on Sunday evening for the 6:30 PM Mass. Unfortunately, all seats are already reserved on the website or on the app “Notre-Dame de Paris” . However, on the Upper Quays of the Left Bank, there will be a public viewing area with giant video screens that can accommodate up to 40,000 spectators.
How to Visit Notre Dame – What Apartment du Louvre Guests Need to Know
First, remember that visits to Notre Dame are FREE. There may be fake websites requesting payment, but these are scams. Reserve your time slots online ONLY on the website or with the Notre-Dame de Paris app. From December 9 th -16 th , while Notre Dame is celebrating
the “Octave of Reopening”, families and individuals can tour this modern miracle only from 3:30-10:00 PM. Beginning on December 16 th , the Cathedral returns to its regular opening hours of 7:45 AM-7:00 PM. If you cannot reserve on the web, it is possible to go there in person and wait, probably for at least a couple of hours. Please note that tour groups will begin again only in June 2025, for Pentecost. Pre-registration will be obligatory. There is space for 3000 people at a time (1500 seated, 1500 standing).
Getting around
There will be stringent security measures in place – the entire Ile de la Cite will be sealed off. A significant part of the Left Bank and nine of its bridges will also be inaccessible; no shops will be open; no boats will be allowed in the area. Service on Metro stations Saint-Michel, Cite, Pont Neuf and RER C will be radically reduced and/or interrupted all day on Saturday and until 8 PM on Sunday. Plan your outings accordingly.
Labor of Love
As the celebration unfolds and we witness the pristine resurrection of Notre Dame, we will see that the President’s promise rings true. More than one thousand artisans (including members of the elite “Compagnons du Devoir”), craftspeople, fire fighters, art restorers, stonemasons and donors have worked together on this labor of love. Notre Dame, the French Gothic masterpiece is 860 years old and what a historic renovation it underwent, we can't wait to have it beating again in the heart of our city.
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