Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the River Seine), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris.

Tickets by Tiqets: instant confirmation, on your phone. Partner link: booking here supports Vaut le Détour at no extra cost.

Key facts

Created

1163

Listed as

classified historical monument (1862)

Style

French Gothic architecture, Early Gothic architecture

Architect

Jean de Chelles, Pierre de Montreuil

Visitors

12 000 000 visitors in 2017

Location

Quartier Notre-Dame

Official website

www.notredamedeparis.fr

What to know

The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary ("Our Lady"), is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Several attributes set it apart from the earlier Romanesque style, including its pioneering use of the rib vault and flying buttress, its enormous and colourful rose windows, and the naturalism and abundance of its sculptural decoration. Notre-Dame is also exceptional for its three pipe organs (one historic) and its immense church bells.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260, though it was modified in succeeding centuries. In the 1790s, during the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive desecration; much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. In the 19th century, the cathedral hosted the coronation of Napoleon and the funerals of many of the French Republic's presidents. The 1831 publication of Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris (English title: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) inspired interest which led to restoration between 1844 and 1864, supervised by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. On 26 August 1944, the Liberation of Paris from German occupation was celebrated in Notre-Dame with the singing of the Magnificat. Beginning in 1963, the cathedral's façade was cleaned of soot and grime. Another cleaning and restoration project was carried out between 1991 and 2000. A fire in April 2019 caused serious damage, closing the cathedral for extensive and costly repairs; it reopened in December 2024.

Notre-Dame is a widely recognised symbol of both the city of Paris and the French nation. In 1805, Pope Pius VII awarded it honorary status as a minor basilica. As the cathedral of the archdiocese of Paris, Notre-Dame contains the cathedra or seat of the archbishop of Paris (currently Laurent Ulrich). In the early 21st century, about 12 million people visited Notre-Dame annually, making it the most visited monument in Paris.

Since 1905, Notre-Dame, like the other cathedrals in France, has been owned by the French government, with the exclusive rights of use granted to the French Roman Catholic Church. The French government is responsible for its maintenance.

Over time, the cathedral has gradually been stripped of many decorations and artworks. It still contains Gothic, Baroque, and 19th-century sculptures, 17th- and early 18th-century altarpieces, and some of the most important relics in Christendom, including the crown of thorns, and a sliver and nail from the True Cross.

On your route

Driving through France or Belgium? Vaut le Détour places this stop on your itinerary with your real arrival time, a lunch spot open at that hour, and fuel or charging.

Nearby

• château de Versailles, 17.6 km away
• Bastille, 1.4 km away
• Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou, 0.9 km away
• palais des Tuileries, 1.7 km away
• palais du Luxembourg, 1.0 km away
• jardin des Tuileries, 2.1 km away
• catacombes de Paris, 2.5 km away
• École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, 1.3 km away

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see near Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris?

Nearby: château de Versailles (17.6 km), Bastille (1.4 km), Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou (0.9 km), palais des Tuileries (1.7 km). Each one can become a detour on your route.

How do I buy tickets for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris?

Tickets for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris are sold online (Tiqets ticketing, instant confirmation, tickets on your phone). The booking link is on this page.

When was Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris created?

Wikidata gives 1163 as its date of creation or foundation.

Is Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris a protected monument?

Yes: classified historical monument (1862) (source: Wikidata).

How many people visit Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris?

The latest visitor count recorded in Wikidata is 12 000 000 visitors in 2017.

Facts and key figures: the Wikipedia article “Notre-Dame de Paris” (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0), retrieved on 2026-08-05. Opening hours and prices are deliberately left out: they change too fast to be reliable anywhere but the official website.