Notre Dame Cathedral facts are easiest to follow in order: a medieval build, centuries of change, a Victorian restoration and a fire that made headlines in 2019. This page gives a timeline, the story by period and 15 facts with their sources. I wrote it from Wikipedia and Wikidata and I give numbers exactly as those sources do, including where they differ. If you are planning your visit, my page on tickets for Notre Dame Cathedral compares the guided tours and timed-entry options I found.
Notre Dame Cathedral History Timeline
Year
What happened
1163
Construction begins under Bishop Maurice de Sully
14th century
The first flying buttresses are replaced by larger ones
1260
The building is largely completed, per the body of the Wikipedia article
1345
The completion year in the Wikipedia infobox
1793
The cathedral is rededicated to the Cult of Reason
1794
It is rededicated to the Cult of the Supreme Being
2 December 1804
Napoleon is crowned Emperor of the French here
1831
Victor Hugo’s novel is published
1844 to 1864
Restoration led by Viollet-le-Duc and Lassus
1862
Listed as a Monument historique
15 April 2019
A fire destroys the flèche and the roof beams
7 and 8 December 2024
Reopening ceremonies
13 December 2024
The Crown of Thorns relic returns
Notre Dame Cathedral Facts: How It Was Built
Wikipedia says construction began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully, with the cornerstone laid between 24 March and 25 April 1163, citing the chronicler Jean de Saint-Victor. The article gives two completion dates: the body says the building was largely completed by 1260, while the infobox lists 1345. I give both because the answer depends on what counts as finished. Wikidata lists Jean de Chelles as the architect.
The numbers are large. The cathedral is 128 m (420 ft) long and 48 m (157 ft) wide, per Wikipedia, and Wikidata gives a height of 69 m. It is built of limestone and marble. Flying buttresses were introduced in the 12th century, and the first ones were replaced in the 14th century by larger ones with a reach of fifteen metres (50 ft). Inside, the organ has over 8,000 pipes and was built by François Thierry in the 18th century.
Notre Dame Cathedral Facts From the Revolution to Hugo
The French Revolution was hard on the building. Wikipedia says the cathedral was rededicated in 1793 to the Cult of Reason and in 1794 to the Cult of the Supreme Being, and that the twenty-eight statues of biblical kings on the west facade were beheaded. On 2 December 1804 Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French at Notre-Dame. In 1831 Victor Hugo’s novel was published, which, per Wikipedia, raised awareness of the cathedral’s decay.
Restoration and Listing
The restoration of 1844 to 1864 was led by Viollet-le-Duc and Lassus, according to Wikipedia. The cathedral was listed as a Monument historique in 1862, under reference PA00086250. That restoration is the reason some of what people photograph is not strictly medieval, and I think it is worth knowing before you read any single claim about what is original.
The 2019 Fire and the Reopening
On 15 April 2019 a fire destroyed the flèche and the forest of oak roof beams, per Wikipedia. The article does not give a beam count, so I do not either. Reopening ceremonies took place on 7 and 8 December 2024, and the Crown of Thorns relic was returned on 13 December 2024. Wikipedia’s reopening section gives an estimated restoration cost of $739 million. Wikidata lists 2024 as the opening year, which is the reopening. The practical details of getting in are on my Notre Dame Cathedral opening hours page, and the map page for the inside is at inside Notre Dame Cathedral.
Notre Dame Cathedral Facts About Visitors
Wikipedia says about 12 million people visited Notre-Dame annually in the early 21st century, making it the most visited monument in Paris. Wikidata gives 12,000,000 visitors a year for 2017. Both figures describe the years before the fire, so I use them as a sense of scale only and not as a current count. Wikipedia does not give a post-reopening visitor figure on the page I used.
Notre Dame Cathedral Facts for Visitors After the Reopening
The history above affects what you see. Since the cathedral reopened in December 2024, visitors are looking at a building that was restored after the fire of 2019, and the listings I compare reflect that: they range from a 45-minute tour in French at $11 to a semi-private tour at $70. The cheapest listings are not all in English, so check the language before you pay. Two of the most-reviewed options are the French-speaking guide tour, rated 4.6 from 651 reviews, and the Skip the Line Timed Entry at $18, rated 3.8 from 407 reviews.
Because the cathedral is a working church, I also recommend reading the official site before you go. It is the only source I trust for whether a given area is open on your date. If you want the full picture of getting in, my Notre Dame Cathedral opening hours guide covers the practical side, and the facts on this page cover the story.
Notre Dame Cathedral Facts in One Paragraph
If you want the short version of these Notre Dame Cathedral facts, here it is. A bishop started the building in 1163. It was largely completed by 1260, or 1345 if you follow the infobox. The Revolution rededicated it and beheaded the statues of the biblical kings, Napoleon was crowned there in 1804, Hugo’s novel drew attention to its decay in 1831 and Viollet-le-Duc and Lassus restored it from 1844 to 1864. A fire in 2019 destroyed the flèche and the roof beams, and the reopening ceremonies were held on 7 and 8 December 2024.
15 Notre Dame Cathedral Facts With Sources
Construction began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully (Wikipedia).
The cornerstone was laid between 24 March and 25 April 1163 (Wikipedia).
It was largely completed by 1260, with 1345 as the infobox completion year (Wikipedia).
Jean de Chelles is listed as architect (Wikidata).
The length is 128 m and the width 48 m (Wikipedia).
Twenty-eight statues of biblical kings on the west facade were beheaded in the Revolution (Wikipedia).
Napoleon was crowned here on 2 December 1804 (Wikipedia).
Viollet-le-Duc and Lassus led the restoration of 1844 to 1864 (Wikipedia).
It was listed as a Monument historique in 1862 (Wikipedia).
A fire on 15 April 2019 destroyed the flèche and the oak roof beams (Wikipedia).
Reopening ceremonies were held on 7 and 8 December 2024, with an estimated restoration cost of $739 million (Wikipedia).
About 12 million people visited annually in the early 21st century (Wikipedia).
What I Could Not Confirm About Notre Dame Cathedral Facts
Several Notre Dame Cathedral facts that appear in searches are not in the sources I used: the height of the flèche, the diameter of the rose windows, the weight of the bell Emmanuel and the number of workers or oak trees used in the rebuild. I leave them out until I can cite them. The official site, notredamedeparis.fr, is the place to check current access and what can be visited.
Notre Dame Cathedral History on a Guided Tour
A guide turns this history into a walk around the building. The best-reviewed guided option with a set access time in my comparison is the Guided Tour with Scheduled Access at $89, rated 4.8 from 433 reviews, lasting about 1.5 hours.
Memories France
Paris Notre Dame Cathedral Guided Tour with Scheduled Access
★4.8 (433 reviews)
1.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The top-rated guided tour with set access: $89, 4.8 from 433 reviews, about 1.5 hours.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ 1.5-hour guided tour
✓ Reserved access to Notre Dame Cathedral
✓ Expert, fully licensed English-speaking guide
✓ Headsets so you can always hear your guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point: Meet your guide at the Paris Today agency. We are a few minutes’ walk away from the cathedral.
The nearest metro is Hotel de Ville.
Please do not go to the cathedral entrance! It can get very crowded and we will not be able to find you there. 2 Quai de Gesvres, 75004 Paris, France
Languages: English
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Excellent, so informative and presented in a lively, interesting manner. I highly recommend Carolina!” – GetYourGuide review
For a cheaper guided option, the Notre Dame Cathedral Guided Tour at $36 is rated 4.5 from 65 reviews and lasts about 1 hour.
italypasstours
Notre Dame Cathedral Guided Tour
★4.5 (65 reviews)
1 hour
Free cancellation
My pick: The mid-priced guided tour: $36, 4.5 from 65 reviews, about 1 hour.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Guided tour of Notre-Dame Cathedral
✓ Professional licensed guide
✓ If Option Selected: Skip the Line
✓ Headphones for clear audio
Not included / not suitable
✕ Transportation to the cathedral
✕ Food and drinks
Meeting point: Meeting Point: Statue de Charlemagne et ses leudes
75004 Île de la Cité, France
Please meet your guide at the statue of Charlemagne and his guards, located just next to Notre Dame Cathedral.
The statue is in the square behind Notre Dame. Look for the large statue with a horse and riders.
Please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled entry time so the guide can organize the group and take you inside the Cathedral. 75004 Île de la Cité, France
Languages: English
Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“the guide was very knowledgable. i really liked him. he did a fantastic job (and even delt with the rude Americans that were nasty to him with grace and firmness)” – GetYourGuide review
Wikipedia says construction began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully, with the cornerstone laid between 24 March and 25 April 1163. The body of the article says it was largely completed by 1260, while the infobox lists 1345 as the completion year.
What happened to Notre Dame in 2019?+
A fire on 15 April 2019 destroyed the flèche and the forest of oak roof beams, per Wikipedia. The cathedral reopened with ceremonies on 7 and 8 December 2024.
How tall and long is Notre Dame Cathedral?+
Wikipedia gives a length of 128 m (420 ft) and a width of 48 m (157 ft). Wikidata gives a height of 69 m.
Why did it take so long to build Notre Dame?+
Wikipedia dates the start to 1163 and says it was largely completed by 1260, with 1345 as the infobox completion year. Its flying buttresses were replaced in the 14th century by larger ones, so work and alterations continued for generations.
How many people visit Notre Dame each year?+
Wikipedia says about 12 million people visited Notre-Dame annually in the early 21st century, making it the most visited monument in Paris. Wikidata gives 12,000,000 visitors a year for 2017, before the fire.
Is the Crown of Thorns at Notre Dame?+
Wikipedia says the Crown of Thorns relic was returned to the cathedral on 13 December 2024. Check the official site for when it can be viewed.
