Rebuilding Notre-Dame after the fire
The reopening ceremony took place on 7 December 2024. General visits resumed on 8 December 2024 at 5:30 p.m., after the opening celebrations. The reopening did not end the works. Restoration of the east end started in 2025 and a second programme is planned for the following years.
This guide is independent. It explains what has been rebuilt, what is still under way and what it means for a visit. How the damage happened is on the fire page.
What the money covers
Three different categories from the Court of Audit report of 3 September 2025.
| Category | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Donations and patronage | €855 million | National collection, direct gifts to the public rebuilding institute, and patronage in kind and skills |
| Securing and conservation | €150.3 million | Stabilising the building after the fire |
| Restoration | €552 million | Restoration of the parts directly hit by the fire |
These are separate categories. Do not add them up to one total and do not read the first row as the cost. The report is not a final account, and later works carry their own costs.
After the reopening, about €140 million from the national collection remained for further urgent works, according to the rebuilding institute. For the additional restoration programme, the institute estimates a need of about €150 million, of which €130 million still has to be raised. These figures come from an undated page and are not a bank balance.
Notre-Dame tours and Paris day trips
Guided visits, Seine cruises and city tours near the cathedral, with live prices and availability.
Works still under way
What the building site looks like in 2026.
The east end
From 2025 the restoration covers the chevet, including flying buttresses, outer walls, roofs and the adjoining outer walls of the transept. A city report on December 2025 describes exposed upper walls and removed windows of the choir galleries. No completion date is set for 2026.
The further programme
The rebuilding institute plans 11 separate operations, to begin between 2026 and 2031. They include the rose windows, the south transept façade, the outer sides of the nave, the towers and chimeras, and the presbytery. To begin is not to be finished by then.
Two end dates
The institute's overview names the period 2026–2033. A city chronicle gives full restoration in 2032–2033 as the target.
The surroundings
A small forecourt area was done at the end of 2025, and the Rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame was finished in summer 2026. The next large forecourt section is planned from summer 2027 to the end of 2028, with more areas up to 2030. The city updated this on 21 September 2026.
What the rebuilt cathedral looks like inside
Inside, the nave is open for visits and entry is free. Read how to plan the day on the tickets page, and the hours are on the opening hours page.
The tower route reopened on 20 September 2025 and gives views of the rebuilt roof frame. That is the best place to see the new work from close by. See the towers page for tickets.
What to expect when you visit
Open building sites and closed squares.
Square de l'Île-de-France is closed
It has been closed since 24 August 2026. The city's roadworks list gives June 2027, and safe footpaths remain planned. Do not plan a walk through the garden behind the cathedral.
Dates for Square Jean-XXIII differ
The city gives 2028 in one place and 2029–2030 in another. Treat both as plans, not a promised reopening.
Métro Saint-Michel is shut
The station on line 4 is closed from 14 September to 19 December 2026 inclusive, according to the RATP. Trains do not stop there. The notice does not close the Cité station or the RER B and C.
The new rooster
The new rooster on the spire holds the relics once kept in the old one. It was set on the rebuilt spire in December 2023.
How to read the numbers
Three points before you quote a figure.
Donations are not costs
The €855 million is the amount reported for donations and patronage. It says what came in, not what the works cost. Securing and restoration are listed separately.
The spire is not a tower
The rebuilt crossing tower, called the spire, is 96 m high. The two west towers are each 69 m. When a source speaks of the tower height, check which one it means.
Start dates are not end dates
The 11 operations are to begin between 2026 and 2031. The institute names 2026–2033 as the overall period and a city chronicle names 2032–2033 for full restoration. These ranges differ, so no single end date is given here.
More on Notre-Dame
The fire, the history and the visit itself.
Notre-Dame restoration: frequently asked questions
When did Notre-Dame reopen after the fire?
The ceremony was on 7 December 2024, and general visits resumed on 8 December 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Is the restoration finished?
No. Works on the east end started in 2025, and the rebuilding institute plans 11 further operations to begin between 2026 and 2031. A city chronicle names 2032–2033 as the target for full restoration.
How much did the rebuilding cost?
The Court of Audit report of 3 September 2025 lists €855 million in donations and patronage, €150.3 million for securing and conservation and €552 million for restoring the parts directly hit by the fire. These are three categories, not one total, and later works are not included.
How tall is the new spire?
The rebuilt crossing tower is 96 m high. The two west towers are 69 m.
Does the scaffolding affect my visit?
The cathedral interior is open, and parts of the outside are under works. Some squares around the cathedral are closed, so check the surroundings before you go.
Can I visit while the works go on?
Yes. The interior is open, entry is free and the tower route is open with a timed ticket. Some squares around the cathedral are closed.