After Six Years... Notre-Dame Cathedral Tower in Paris Reopens to the Public

Explanations and Exhibition Spaces Along the 424 Steps

The general public will once again be able to visit the tower of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which was damaged by fire in 2019, starting on September 20 (local time).

According to the Notre-Dame Cathedral website, in celebration of European Heritage Days, the cathedral tower tour course will be open to the public free of charge on both September 20 and 21. After these dates, anyone can visit by reserving a time slot on the website and purchasing a paid ticket (16 euros, approximately 26,000 won).

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Philippe Jost, who is in charge of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, are touring Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on the 19th (local time). Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The Notre-Dame Cathedral fire broke out on the evening of April 15, 2019. The fire caused the collapse of the spire built in 1859 and destroyed most of the wooden roof. There were no fatalities, but several emergency responders were injured. The exact cause of the fire has not been determined, but authorities have ruled out arson or criminal activity.

The main structure of Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened on December 7 of last year. The tower, which is reopening now, was made accessible to the public later due to the completion of restoration work. Before the fire, the cathedral's tower served as an observation deck, offering panoramic views of Paris after climbing 424 steps to the top. During the restoration, authorities installed rest areas and exhibition rooms on three levels to make the ascent easier for visitors and to help them better understand the history of the cathedral.

Here, major events related to the cathedral are recreated in the form of soundscapes. Two chimera statues-mythical creatures from Greek mythology with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon-that survived the fire, as well as a model of the cathedral, are also on display. In addition, visitors can see the two large bells, Emmanuel (13.3 tons) and Marie (6 tons), which ring during major worship services and national events at the cathedral.

Marie Lavandier, president of the National Monuments Center, told the daily Le Figaro, "The purpose of visiting itself has changed. Six years ago, the goal was to reach the top as quickly as possible and enjoy the view, but now visitors can read and listen to explanations at various points along the ascent."