In the summer of 2025, the spire of Notre Dame de Paris, which has been restored over six years, will soon reopen to the public, marking the first time that the Gothic church will welcome visitors in its full glory since the fire that shook the world in 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier announced that the spire would be officially completed and visits resumed in December 2025, and according to the latest notification, this point may be brought forward.
The classic landmark will return soon
Notre Dame is France’s most representative religious and cultural landmark. Since 1163, the construction of the church began, which took nearly two centuries to complete, and its unique fly-railing walls, rose windows, and the structure of the twin towers are known as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. And the steeple portion of the church, though not the original structure, was rebuilt under the auspices of 19th-century architect Violet Le Duc and became an important element of the Paris skyline.
On the April 15, 2019, fire, the roof structure and the steeple were engulfed in flames. The fire was simulcast live on media outlets around the world, with hundreds of millions of viewers witnessing the moment the spire collapsed. French authorities quickly initiated reconstruction work in the wake of the fire, with the goal of completing all restoration work within five years.
Now, in its sixth year, the 96-meter-high new minaret is nearing completion, using the same design and materials as the 19th-century minaret, including oak main beams and a lead roof, faithfully restoring the historical appearance.
Precision engineering meets modern technology
The Notre Dame restoration project has been called a “national priority” in France. According to the French Ministry of Culture, the restoration team used state-of-the-art architectural scanning, 3D modeling, and material analysis techniques, allowing the reconstruction work to maintain historical consistency while achieving higher safety and durability standards.
Of particular interest is the introduction of experts in architectural history and structural mechanics from the French National Academy of Sciences (CNRS) and the École des Ponts ParisTech. Using laser scanning and artificial intelligence to recognize the original building data, they successfully reconstructed a digital model with millimeter-level accuracy, providing the basis for the accurate restoration of the minaret.
In addition, the weathercock symbol on top of the spire has been reproduced and will be returned to its place on the day of the reopening, symbolizing the “new life” of Notre Dame.
Opening to the public: hours, ticketing, and security
According to a statement issued jointly by the City of Paris and the French Cultural Heritage Agency, the reconstructed Minaret will be open to the public from December 15, 2025, when visitors will be able to make reservations to climb the tower and experience a magnificent view of Paris.
Taking into account safety and visitor traffic, the Spire will limit the number of admissions per day, initially expected to receive about 500 people per day, and adopt a time-sharing reservation system. Tickets will be purchased through the official Notre Dame website or the official platform of the French Ministry of Culture, and ticket prices will be announced later.
In addition, a digital exhibition area will be added to the spire to introduce the fire, the restoration process, and the history of the building to enhance the public’s cultural experience.
Symbolism in French society
French President Emmanuel Macron once said the day after the fire, “We will rebuild Notre Dame, more beautiful than ever.” Today, that promise is being realized.
The rebirth of Notre Dame de Paris is not only a triumph of architectural restoration but also a symbol of French social unity and cultural confidence. According to statistics, after the fire, donations from all over the world totaled more than 800 million euros, and more than 3,000 volunteers, craftsmen, and scholars participated in the restoration work.
UNESCO has also listed the restoration of Notre Dame as a “World Heritage Priority Case” and provided technical support and cultural advice.
International attention
The reconstruction of Notre Dame’s spire has attracted a great deal of attention from the world’s architectural, historical, and religious communities. Historical building preservation organizations from Germany, Italy, Japan, and other countries have sent representatives to visit the construction site and exchange experience in post-disaster restoration. The American Architectural Review called it “one of the most iconic cultural restoration projects of the 21st century” and emphasized France’s leadership in global cultural heritage preservation.
Looking to the future
In addition to the spire, the comprehensive restoration of the entire Notre Dame complex continues to progress, with interior stone cleaning, stained glass restoration, and organ retuning scheduled to be completed by 2026.
With the opening of the spire to the public, it is expected that Paris will usher in a new round of tourism peaks. The French government also plans to carry out cultural revitalization projects around the Notre Dame area, including the addition of museums, thematic exhibitions, and so on.
The rebirth of Notre-Dame de Paris is not only a respect for history, but also a solemn declaration of cultural heritage for the future.
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