Renovated Notre Dame Cathedral

It is really a “to do” when visiting the city of light and love. Though it needs a bit of planning and sometimes patience, especially when Paris is busy with visitors.

Pre-book your visiting time via the Notre Dame app - it is free, and spaces usually get released 48 hours in advance. When I went, I popped onto the app at 22:00 on a Friday and found a space for 09:00 the following morning! They recommend arriving 5 minutes before the allotted time, and your reservation is valid for 20 minutes after the allotted time. I turned up at 08:45 and was waved straight in with no waiting in line.

Another way is to turn up and join the no-reservation line, though this could result in long waits. Going early in the morning is best in my opinion to avoid the crowds and then you have time, and space, to admire the beauty of the building and the amazing restorations.

As soon as you enter you get a magnificent view of the full length of the Cathedral. Look up at the ceiling and don’t miss the big yellow cross at the far end of the nave, as it survived the fire amazingly – a feature not to miss. (If a service is happening, then you won’t be able to go too far forward in the centre unless you are attending the mass service - once mass is over, you can advance up as far as the altar, which is a modern sculpture and I think fits in really well).

Everyone is supposed to visit in a clockwise direction though some don’t seem to understand the arrows. The building is amazing and now so bright and clean, some say too new looking, but in reality it is just restored back to its original self - I had visited in 2016 and it was so dark inside with centuries of grime.

Of course the north and south rose windows are stunning, especially on a sunny day, but don’t miss the new modern sculpture in its own chapel in eastern end as well as the area dedicated to the firemen of Paris who saved the cathedral - along with the original altar cross, partially covered in molten lead from the roof, which they saved.

I'm here to arrange your trip to Paris - remember I lived there for 30 years, so I have some insider tips- Hopefully, you will enjoy visiting as much as I did.