Just a month after reopening to the public, the restored Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral has welcomed more than 800,000 visitors, according to Le Parisien.
The iconic Parisian landmark, which was severely damaged by a fire in 2019, reopened in mid-December following an extensive restoration effort spanning over five years.
Staff at Notre Dame report overwhelming enthusiasm from visitors.
“It’s a huge success, with good reviews. Even after a long wait on the street, people are amazed by what they see,” said cathedral employees.
Notre Dame is expected to surpass the one-million-visitor milestone in the coming days.
Current estimates indicate an average of 32 visitors entering the cathedral every minute. Two-thirds of these visits are made without reservations, and during the initial rush after the reopening, visitors waited up to three hours to enter.
Visitors can also secure entry by reserving a time slot online for free, but these slots are highly sought after and fill up quickly. On average, tourists now spend about 30 minutes inside the cathedral — 10 minutes longer than before the fire.
Entry to the cathedral remains free, despite discussions last October about introducing an entrance fee to help fund the restoration of other churches in France. Culture Minister Rachida Dati had proposed charging tourists for access, but the Paris diocese opposed the idea, arguing that Notre Dame is a functioning church and should remain open to the public at no cost.
Reopening Ceremony
The cathedral's grand reopening ceremony, held five and a half years after the fire, took place in December.
Leaders from 40 countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, attended the event alongside several members of royalty.
