Add Paris to your 2025 – 2026 travel plans.
On April 15, 2019, my daughter called me at work “Notre-Dame is on fire and the spire has fallen.” I couldn’t believe it and immediately logged onto a news source. It was devastating, and my heart broke for the landmark, for the Parisians, and for all the visitors who made a pilgrimage to the ancient cathedral.
The resurrection is complete and on December 8th, Notre-Dame reopened her glorious doors to the world. I’m planning a trip to Paris in March, and a repeat visit is top of my list of things to do. Recently while in Charles de Gaulle airport, I picked up Paris Vous Aime magazine which is published by Paris Aeroport. From this Fall 2024 edition, I gleaned these facts that I hope interest you as they do me.
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- 96 meters is the height of the new gilded rooster that sits atop the rebuilt spire. The old rooster was found the day after the fire. Intact inside were the remains of St. Denis and St. Geneviève as well as a fragment of Christ’s thorn of crowns. These relics are sealed inside the new rooster along with the names of the 2,000 workers and craftsmen completed the rebuild using ancient techniques and materials.
- Wood to replace the centuries old beams were sourced from throughout France as oak trees the size needed are rare today. Axes were forged in Alsaces to carve the beams and master craftsmen from throughout the country were sought to replicate the processes used in the Middle Ages. As the beams are green wood, it is estimated they will lose 5% of volume as they dry out which just as they did when first built in the 12th century.
- There are five new liturgical furnishings with bronze elements that make up the cathedral. he altar, ambo, presbytery, baptistery and tablernacle were all designed by Guillaume Bardet, are resident of the Villa Medici in Rome.
- It will take months to tune the 8,000 pipes that make up the great organ. Each of the pipes were dismantled, cleaned and restored before being replaced.
- The cost to repair the magnificent cathedral is $780 million dollars. Donations from around the world made this work possible.
- 14 million visitors are expected to visit in the next year. There is also talk of levying a small admission fee for “cultural” visitors, but for those attending services the church will remain free of charge. This has not been enacted as of this writing.
- Length: 420 feet (128 meters)
- Width: 157 feet (48 meters)
- Nave roof height: 115 feet (35 meters)
- Tower height: 226 feet (69 meters)
- Spire height: 315 feet (96 meters)
- Only one of the cathedral’s three great rose windows retains its original 13th century glass
Are you ready to visit France? If you don’t want to go it alone, let us help you find a guide, a tour or a river cruise.
However you visit the City of Lights, “Paris is always a good idea!” – Audrey Hepburn.