Paris (EFE).- Tourists visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will be able to climb the 424 steps that lead to its towers from Saturday, six years after a devastating fire that destroyed the roof and other parts of the structure.
Visitors will be able to access the completely rebuilt parts, starting with the south tower and pass by the Emmanuel, the largest bell of Notre Dame, weighing 13.3 tons and which was cast in 1681, Julie Schafir, chief of mediation and scenery at the National Monuments Center of France, told EFE.
This large bell is, in fact, the only one that survived the fire on Apr.15, 2019, and is used only on special occasions, such as the death of the pope or the extremist attacks in November 2015 in Paris.
The other nine bells in the cathedral had to be recast, such as the one accompanying Emmanuel, Marie, which weighs 6.2 tons.
Visitors will also be able to access the terrace, located at a height of 69 meters and offering a unique 360-degree view from the Île de la Cité, in the heart of the French capital.
The tour ends at the north tower of the iconic building, whose foundation stone was laid in 1163. Along the way, visitors will cross narrow spaces of barely 45 centimeters, as well as low-rise ceilings, while a part of the route will feature a new massive oak staircase.
“Before the fire, it was a much more traditional visit, with texts to read, but now we give it another more sensory approach that allows us to understand some things, such as the important dates of the history of the cathedral and of France,” Schafir explained.
She added that the Notre Dame was “an exceptional monument and the architecture already has a lot to say for itself”.
Visits to the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral are limited to 1,400 people per day in high-influx season and 900 in low season. The timings are from 9am to 11pm between Sep.20 and Oct.31; 9am to 5pm between Nov.1 and Mar.31, 2026; and 9am to 11.30pm between Apr.1 and Sep.30, 2026.
In total, the annual capacity will be 400,000 visitors, 50,000 fewer than before the April 2019 fire, with the aim of offering a higher quality experience, according to those responsible for the monument.
The entry ticket is priced at 16 euros ($18.8) for the general public, which must be purchased online. It is free for children under 18 years of age and for young people up to 25 years of age who are European Union citizens or non-European residents in France, who need to book a zero-cost e-ticket.
“We hope that visitors will be delighted to be able to rediscover the towers of Notre Dame and that they will also be truly amazed by this new tour,” said Schafir. EFE
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