Paris Reopens Notre Dame Crypt to Visitors, More Than 1 Year After Fire (2024)

The reopened crypt also features a new exhibit.

The crypt beneath Paris’ Notre Dame reopened to the public last week over a year after the devastating fire led to its closure in April of 2019.

Although the crypt was not damaged by the fire, it was affected by the fallout of lead dust. For the past year, cleaning crews have been sweeping out the toxic debris.

“It was terrible,” chief curator of the crypt, Sylvie Robin, told Smithsonian. “There was lead everywhere. Molds and micro-organisms spread, because we had to turn off the ventilation system. So today is an important moment, a very moving moment of renewal and hope for us.”

Paris Reopens Notre Dame Crypt to Visitors, More Than 1 Year After Fire (2)

The crypt reopened to the public last week featuring a brand new exhibit chronicling the history of the cathedral. The exhibit specifically focuses on Victor Hugo, who wrote the character of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and architect Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc, who designed the cathedral’s iconic gothic spire.

Visitors will see drawings, films and other spinoff material from Hugo’s character. Photographs of the mid-19th century construction of the spire will delight hardcore Notre Dame fans.

The exhibit is laid around the crypt’s most spectacular draw — ancient remains of ramparts and thermal baths excavated from beneath Paris. The remnants from archaeological digs of Ile de la Cite, the Parisian island where the cathedral is located, are also on display.

The crypt is not officially linked to the cathedral. It lies beneath the public plaza in front of the massive church, which reopened to the public in June. The exhibit is scheduled to run until 2022.

The cathedral itself remains closed. French President Emmanuel Macron hopes that Notre Dame will be completely restored before 2024, when Paris is due to host the Olympics.

Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure, currently based in Brooklyn. When in a new city, she's usually out to discover under-the-radar art, culture, and secondhand stores. No matter her location, you can find her on Twitter, on Instagram or at caileyrizzo.com.

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Paris Reopens Notre Dame Crypt to Visitors, More Than 1 Year After Fire (2024)

FAQs

Paris Reopens Notre Dame Crypt to Visitors, More Than 1 Year After Fire? ›

In 2020, the city reopened the crypt beneath Notre Dame, which was filled with toxic lead dust from the blaze, as well as the public plaza in front of the cathedral's main entrance.

Can you still visit Notre Dame after the fire? ›

That aside, if seeing Notre Dame when you visit Paris is your dream, you should know that it's still possible, even after the infamous fire — it just won't be quite the same as before. You can no longer attend a service to hear the organ during Mass or watch the light filtering through the rose windows from inside.

Is the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in 2024? ›

It's official: the Notre Dame Cathedral, an icon of Paris, will reopen its doors in December 2024. Along with marking the beginning of a new era in its 860-year history, the reopening will invite visitors to marvel anew at a feat of architectural achievement powered by the human imagination.

Can you go into Notre Dame crypt? ›

Though you cannot enter the square, for now, you can see it from afar. Then your guide will lead you to the entrance to the crypt, where, following your guided tour, you will be given access below Notre Dame. You'll take a self-guided visit to the very foundations of Île de la Cité, the original city of Paris.

How long will the reconstruction of Notre Dame last? ›

Located in a new cultural venue underneath the cathedral in a former parking garage, Notre-Dame de Paris: In the Heart of the Restoration will be on display through December 2024. This exhibit provides an overview of the restoration project and the trades involved, alongside damaged artifacts pulled from the fire.

Is the Notre Dame crypt open? ›

From May 31, 2020, the cathedral's parvis is accessible to the public, a first step towards the full reopening of Notre-Dame. The archaeological crypt is once again open to visitors. However, the cathedral's towers and treasures will be closed to the public until further notice.

Can you visit Notre Dame 2023? ›

The cathedral remains closed to the public until further notice. It is set to reopen in December 2024.

What is the update for the Notre Dame Cathedral in 2023? ›

Notre-Dame Cathedral's 2023 Reconstruction Progress Updates

Key structural elements like vaults and buttress walls have been repaired or replaced. The timber framework for the nave and choir is being prepared in workshops for future installation. The reconstruction of the iconic spire has also commenced.

Is stabilized Notre Dame Cathedral on track for 2024 reopening officials say? ›

Fire ravaged the 12th century monument in April 2019. The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is going fast enough to allow its reopening to visitors and faithful at the end of 2024, less than six years after a fire ravaged its roof, French officials said Monday.

What is the current condition of Notre Dame Cathedral? ›

Notre Dame's fire-damaged roof is being rebuilt using medieval techniques When fire engulfed the Paris landmark in 2019, the intricate maze of medieval beams supporting the roof fell to the cathedral floor. Experts are working to restore the church by the end of 2024.

Is the Notre Dame crypt worth it? ›

The basem*nt of Notre Dame is very good, an archaeological site, and a lot of high-tech and interactive exhibition equipment is put in, you can see relics, artifacts, and many architectural models.

Is the Notre Dame crypt free? ›

The Crypt of Notre Dame is open everyday, except Monday, from 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m.The ticket booth closes at 5:30 p.m. Admission prices are: 3.30 euros for adults; 1.60 euros for teens; under 13 years of age are admitted free.

Is the Notre Dame crypt closed? ›

From May 31, 2020, the cathedral's parvis is accessible to the public, a first step towards the full reopening of Notre-Dame. The archaeological crypt is once again open to visitors. However, the cathedral's towers and treasures will be closed to the public until further notice.

How long will it take to rebuild Notre Dame in Paris? ›

According to the Culture Ministry, work will continue through 2025, notably to rebuild the spire, which will be a copy of the one created by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. The complete restoration of the building, accompanied by a renovation of the forefront, might continue until 2028.

How close is Notre Dame to being restored? ›

The restoration project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. It's been a little over four years since Notre Dame, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris, caught fire. The fire started in the early evening on April 15, 2019, according to Friends of Notre-Dame Paris.

How much will it cost to restore Notre Dame? ›

French culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak announced this week that Notre-Dame cathedral, which is undergoing a vast, €846 million ($865 million) reconstruction after being ravaged by a massive fire in April 2019, should reopen in 2024 to coincide with the Olympic Games in Paris—timing that is sure to bring the eyes of ...

Can you see Notre Dame now from the outside? ›

Notre Dame has had access banned to its interior since the fire of 2019 but nevertheless, one of its greatest attractions still stands, which you can enjoy without even getting close; its exterior facade.

Can you walk around Notre Dame University? ›

Notre Dame's campus is open year-round and can be walked on a self-guided tour. There are, however, other options if you'd like to be shown around. Admissions tours for prospective students, a general tour from the Eck Visitors Center and a tour through Notre Dame Stadium are all available.

Can you go to church at Notre Dame in Paris? ›

Attend Mass at Notre-Dame-de-Paris

You can easily attend Mass at Notre-Dame, since services take place on a daily basis.

Can you go inside Sacre Coeur? ›

The Sacre Coeur is open every day of the year, including on bank holidays, from 6.00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and entry is free. It is not necessary to make group reservations, but please maintain the silent atmosphere within the church.

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