Visit the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral area

Notre Dame de Paris - a majestic cathedral built in the 14th century - is located in the Île de la cité in the heart of the 4th arrondissement. Even though this monument is very popular with tourists, we cannot forget that it is also a place of worship as it still is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris in the heart of the catholic spiritual life.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral: Representative of French Gothic architecture

As one of the greatest monuments of the French capital, listed on the World Heritage list, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most remarkable masterpieces of gothic architecture. Designed by Maurice de Sully, the construction of this cathedral began in 1163 and took nearly two centuries to complete; it was finally finished in 1345.
Notre Dame cathedral underwent a restoration in the 19th century, led by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc, during which the great spire was rebuilt, and after the façade was restored in 2000, the Notre Dame now looks just as magnificent as it did when it was first built. 

Situated in the historical and geographical center of Paris, right on the edge of the Île de la Cité, the Notre Dame is the symbolic center of Paris; you cannot be closer to the heart of France than when you are on the doorstep of the Notre Dame. The layout of the cathedral was innovatively modern, with its nave with 5 transepts. Notre Dame de Paris is the proud owner of many stained glass windows, including rose windows, two of which are 13m wide across the diameter, which puts them amongst the largest in the whole of Europe. The towers, which stand at 69m high and house many gargoyles and bells, inspired one of Victor Hugo’s most famous tales, "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame", the story of the famous bell ringer, Quasimodo.

Open 7 days a week, visiting is completely free. However, there is a fee for a tour of the cathedral's great towers, one which consists of an almighty 422 steps. The view from the top is beautiful and is the only one of its kind, offering a view of the River Seine and its many bridges, as well as a great number of other Parisian gems, such as la Saint-Chapelle, the Tower of Saint-Jacques and the Sacré-Cœur. 

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is an important monument part of the tourism of the City of Lights. It attracts every year millions of tourists eager to see its towers and the gothic façade from the parvis, to enter and admire the broken-arch vaults and be marveled by the play of the light cast through the stained glass.

With Paris City Vision, organize your guided visit to the Notre-Dame Cathedral thanks to the various tours proposed by experimented guides or the tickets allowing you to have audioguides. The best information and the most unusual anecdotes about this emblematic monument will be told during your visit. You will discover in the parvis the marvelous sculptures, treasures of this building.

Visits are possible from Monday to Friday, so you can get to know this almighty Christendom place through its history, sculptures, towers, and crypt.