The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral’s interior is the brightest I have ever seen. The centuries of incense, smoke, dust and presence of people are memories of the past. It is time to make Notre-Dame memories for the future. The renovations of the walls, the stonework and carpentry, the paintings, the sculptures, everything is strikingly fresh. The colors of the stained-glass windows glow with light.
The colors are used by French designers from the liturgical clothing (Jean-Charles de Castelbajac) to the gold disc in the axial chapel. Even the chairs (designed by Guillaume Bardet) are now more comfortable. Sylvain Dubuisson designed the gold disc.
During special veneration times (see below)* the crucifixion elements: the sacred crown of thorns, nail and piece of the cross are exposed on a plush, red pillow on the main altar.
The disc consists of 396 shimmering glass pieces on a cedar panel. The disc was made for the axial chapel behind the main altar. Within the axial chapel’s marble altar is stored the 1896 reliquary designed by Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-Le-Duc.
Even the new “Notre-Dame de Paris” application for smartphones is a French design (Cathédral de Notre-Dame de Paris 2024). The app offers several options. You can book tickets, listen to self-guided tours (timed visit, outside visit, indoor visit, discover the cathedral and surrounding churches, etc.) I highly encourage the reservation system and make a donation at the same time.
A Moving Moment During the Visit
As I continued slowly through the north aisle, the transept and the south aisle, I was in awe. And then I approached a moving moment: Two symbols of resilience.
The original copper Rooster (Coq de la flèche), which crowned the spire was believed lost. The rooster was found the next day in the rubble. Now distorted, it symbolizes not only the cathedral’s resilience but also the city of Paris whose motto is Fluctuat nec mergitur (she is rocked by the waves but does not sink).
Next on the southern aisle circuit was a tribute. Photos and a plaque paid tribute to those who worked on the reconstruction, the artistic renovations and the donors.
When I read about the 340,000 donors, I almost wanted to cry. I knew I was one of those immediate donors. Over the last five years, I watched workers on the scaffolding live and on French television.
On these programs, I saw artists working on the renovations of sculptures. Others were meticulously cleaning stone and stained glass. And then we learned of the untimely death in the Pyrenées of the supervisor, General Jean-Louis Georgelin. Resilient, the work continued.
After this tribute is the Treasury and Sacristy. Inside is another remnant of the fire; the crosier carried by the Paris archbishop. In a display case at the entry to the Liturgical Chapel is the crosier/staff. The staff is carved from a 2019 fire-scorched beam.
The Treasury of Notre-Dame de Paris was the subject of a special 2023 exhibition at the Louvre presenting many of the contents.
Saving many of the objects during the fire was the work of Captain Franck of the Paris Fire Brigade. To protect his anonymity, his full name is never written. Except for the crucifixion elements, they have all returned to their proper place, including the tunic of Saint Louis.
Reservations or No Reservations?
The cathedral was full for the noon mass on Friday. We stayed for the services and enjoyed listening to the organ accompaniment. During services, only the north and south aisles and the treasury are open for photos and visits.
The length of the lines depends on the day of the week. On Friday we entered before our reservation for 10:30. We took the shorter line for non-reservations. The church was packed by 11:00 a.m. The following Tuesday morning (9:30) both lines were long. But within two minutes, they were short. Group visits are not permitted.
Neapolitan Nativity Scene
A large 18th-century nativity scene, with rich details and symbols, is on display until February 2025. The collector, Alberto Ravaglioli”, recently deceased, set the scene in the Neapolitan tradition along Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples. For 50 years, he collected 150 clay santons (Christmas figurines) for this nativity tableau.
Additional Information
*Veneration Schedule for the Crown of Thorns: Every Friday, from January 10 to April 18, 2025 (Good Friday 2025), from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. From May 2025, on the first Friday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The veneration will be followed by Vespers at 5:30 PM.
- Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams. PressReader
- Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Joins the Atelier of Notre-Dame!
- More images and stories on Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris
- Read more about the cedar backdrop and glass disc -The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
- The journalism website, The Conversation, ran an interesting story about where the relic was hidden during the fire and later retrieved.
- Designer Guillaume Bardet created a series of liturgical objects