On Friday, September 20, the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris were officially reopened to the public after a six-year restoration. French President Emmanuel Macron presided over the ceremony.

The Centre des Monuments Nationales invited architects, restorers, and heritage representatives to the inauguration of the new sensory and immersive visitor route, inviting them to discover this masterpiece of Gothic architecture as part of European Heritage Days. The Cathedral reopened in December of last year, though not yet fully restored. The final stage of work was on its two towers.

The bell tower’s north tower was weakened by the 2019 fire, and carpenters from Ateliers Perrault replaced the charred solid oak beams, supported by a 150-ton structure to restore its foundations. The eight bells, removed in 2023 and restored at the Cornille Havard foundry, were returned to their original location in September 2024.

 The south tower was spared from the fire, but had weak frames that underwent extensive restoration. Its two bell towers, which ring the Emmanuel and Marie bells, have been reinforced with new yokes, specially designed to withstand the impressive metal loads. The lead roof has been completely redone, and carpenters from McB Métiers du Bois have installed a double spiral staircase with 178 steps, improving visitor flow.

The tour takes 50 minutes, climbing 424 steps. It begins at the steep spiral staircase of the South Tower, which leads to the first Medieval hall, where a model of the Cathedral is displayed and where the history of the monument, begun in 1163, is told. The 178-step wooden staircase continues to the terrace of the South Tower, at an altitude of almost 70 meters, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the French capital.

The tour returns to the interior of the Cathedral for a close-up look at the two temple bells: the «Bourdon» Emmanuel, weighing over 13 tons, and the six-ton ​​Marie. There is a large balcony overlooking the Cathedral courtyard to see the famous «forest,» a legendary wooden attic, completely rebuilt. Visits to the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral are limited to 400,000 visitors per year, who must purchase tickets online for 16 euros. Only 19 people are allowed inside at a time. The restoration of the towers cost 552 million euros.

 The exemplary cooperation between institutions, architects, and artisans gives the restoration all the majesty of the Cathedral’s western massif and recalls the historical page of art and faith that bears witness to French devotion to the Virgin, Mother of Lord Jesus Jesus Christ.