Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in central Paris, originally begun in 1163 and largely built by the mid-13th century. It is one of the foremost examples of French Gothic architecture and was a central religious and cultural landmark of Paris.

Famous architectural features include the sculpted west façade with twin towers, the vaulted nave and choir, and large medieval rose windows. The building’s exterior and roofline, including its spire added in the 19th century, have been central elements of Paris’s skyline.

Construction began under Bishop Maurice de Sully in the 12th century and continued through the 13th century, with later modifications and restorations in the 18th and 19th centuries, most notably by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The cathedral suffered a major fire on 15 April 2019 that destroyed the spire and much of the roof; restoration work has been underway since then.

The cathedral stands on Île de la Cité in the Seine at the heart of Paris, within walking distance of the Latin Quarter and the Marais. It is centrally located and easily reached from major Paris transport hubs.

• Post-fire access: Access to the interior was suspended after the fire of 15 April 2019; visitors should check current opening status and restoration progress before planning an interior visit.
• Best viewpoints: Good exterior viewpoints include the Île de la Cité riverbanks and the square in front of the cathedral for unobstructed photographs of the west façade.

What to See #

• West façade and towers: The west-facing twin towers of the cathedral, completed in the 13th century and rising to about 69 metres, form the famous façade that faces the Parvis of Notre-Dame.
• Rose windows: Large circular stained-glass windows on the north, south and west elevations featuring medieval tracery and extensive stained-glass panels, historically important examples of Gothic rose windows.
• Choir and nave: The cathedral's choir, nave and historic chapels which historically housed important liturgical furnishings and relics and formed the main interior spaces prior to the 2019 fire.