What It’s Like Now Inside the Beloved Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral

The interior of the cathedral reopened to the public on December 8, although much restoration work still remains to be done.

The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, on Oct. 24, 2024. The diocese reiterated the principle of "free admission to churches and cathedrals," defended by the Catholic Church in France, following Culture Minister Rachida Dati's proposal to charge tourists admission to Notre-Dame de Paris. Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

By Marla Jo Fisher The Orange County Register

Millions watched on television in horror on April 15, 2019, as plumes of fire shot up from the Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated cathedrals. At first, the devastation seemed nearly total, with much of the roof and the iconic spire lost to flames. But today, more than five years later, visitors once more pour into its sanctuary, eager to see how the $1 billion restoration work has progressed.