It was surreal to re-enter Notre Dame after all these years. It seemed so different – and familiar all at the same time. So bright. So fresh. So welcoming.
What I didn’t expect – was to smell the fire. My senses were alerted almost immediately to the smell of burning wood. You would never know visually that anything had happened to this church after all the painstaking rehab she has been through. But that smell was the reminder of all that this beauty has been through.
I’ll be back soon after the crowds dissipate in January. There is alot to see. A lot to take in that you can’t quite do when you are moving with a large crowd.
But I am blown away at the beauty of this evolution. And grateful to all those who worked so hard for this day to become real.
Maybe because California is burning, that walking into this church was a reminder of what is possible when community comes together.
How to visit Notre Dame in Paris?
After Notre Dame reopened last month, there was a little confusion at first about how to visit. But it is super easy. And it is still FREE.
You have 2 options:
- You can take your chance and just walk right up to Notre Dame and hop in the line. Just like you may have done in years past.
- Notre Dame also now has an online reservation system that allows you (spaces permitted) to book your place for a specific window. But you can only book tickets a few hours in advance to up to a day and a half out. (at least as of January, 2025). Even though the crowds are getting thinner here in Paris, we still opted to book ourselves tickets yesterday when we visited. The site is easy to navigate. You get the tickets delivered to your phone and just show them to the ticket checker once you are in line.
Those without reservation have a separate line. So look for the special line for the pre-reserved free tickets.
And enjoy yourselves. It is breathtakingly gorgeous!!!
