The towers of Notre-Dame open to the public for the European Heritage Days

By&nbspSerge Duchêne

Published on 20/09/2025 - 15:31 GMT+2

Six years aft nan occurrence that ravaged nan cathedral and 9 months aft nan nave was reopened to nan public, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is reopening its towers.

From this Saturday, September 20, arsenic portion of nan European Heritage Days, visitors will erstwhile again beryllium capable to climb to nan apical of nan towers, which were wholly restored aft nan occurrence that ravaged nan majestic religion successful 2019.

French President Emmanuel Macron was nan first to climb to nan tile of nan cathedral nan time earlier to observe nan reopening.

The circuit of nan towers, suspended pursuing nan occurrence connected 15 April 2019, has been wholly reorganised and redesigned.

Lasting astir 45 minutes, it originates pinch nan southbound building and leads up to nan doorbell tower, which was antecedently hidden acknowledgment to nan building of a expansive double staircase successful coagulated oak.

Inspired by nan Château de Chambord, nan staircase ensures that those ascending and descending do not walk each other. Specially designed for nan reopening, this staircase was built "with absolute respect for nan abstraction successful which it is housed. It's a existent method and artistic feat," explained Philippe Jost, President of nan Notre-Dame nationalist institution, to France Bleu.

It's a masterpiece that's unsocial successful nan world, designed successful workshops successful Normandy: 10,000 hours of activity and 1,200 pieces of wood for a 21-metre-high building that had to beryllium reassembled wrong nan tower. A feat accomplished by 45 young, passionate carpenters.

424 steps to scope a tallness of 69 m

For nan comfortableness of a breathtaking position of Paris from nan 69-metre-high terraces, you will person to make an effort by climbing nan 424 steps.

Other "prizes," if you like, for nan persevering are nan cathedral's 2 main bells, including Emmanuel, which measurement successful astatine complete 13 tonnes and are only rung connected awesome occasions.

And finally, visitors tin observe nan Cour des citernes, which separates nan 2 towers, from wherever they tin respect nan 'forest,' nan model rebuilt aft being devastated by nan flames.

"When you're outside, you can't ideate that there's a existent wood of wood location too," Philippe Villeneuve, main designer of historical monuments, told Franceinfo. Adding that nan celebrated gargoyles and nan spire are besides visible from an unbeatable distance.

Nine group astatine a time, arsenic Heritage Day bookings waste retired fast

To entree nan tours, you request a ticket, and only 9 group tin participate astatine a time.

So it's hardly astonishing that, according to nan Centre des monuments nationaux, tickets for nan 2 days of nan Heritage Days sold retired successful conscionable 24 minutes.

"We opened for nan Heritage Days. Within a fewer twelve minutes, everything was already booked up," Marie Lavandier, President of nan Centre, told Franceinfo.

More than 8 cardinal visitors person already visited nan cathedral since it was reopened. While nan cathedral is free to visit, nan towers costs €16. They tin beryllium visited 7 days a week and are presently unfastened until 11 pm.

Additional sources • franceinfo, France Bleu