A year ago, the official reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris took place, following years of extensive restoration after the devastating fire of April 15, 2019.
During this first year, the cathedral welcomed more than 11 million visitors, significantly surpassing the pre-fire annual average of 8 or 9 million, an increase of nearly 30%, according to cathedral management.
According to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Sybille Bellamy-Brown, the cathedral’s head of public reception, described the turnout as “a success beyond all our expectations.”
She noted that Notre-Dame has not only reclaimed its global status as a major tourist attraction but has also strengthened its role as a place of worship, hosting over 1600 masses and 650 organized pilgrimages this year, one-third of which were international.
Among the most celebrated attractions is the Crown of Thorns, a sacred relic purchased by Saint Louis in 1238. It is now displayed weekly, instead of once a month as in the past.
A large Provençal Nativity scene from Bélin, featuring more than fifty religious figurines, is also on display until February 2, 2026.
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