Notre Dame Cathedral Light Show/

I have not heard of this, but one of my favorite things in Paris is to walk around Notre Dame at night; it is stunningly beautiful lit up at night and IMHO the most beautiful view is from the back on the bridge that passes by the back gardens. We were there 3 weeks ago on a very rainy night late after dinner nearby and got a wonderful Christmas card snapshot of us with the illuminated Cathedral behind us. Although it was pouring, we did find a kind passerby to snap the photo.

I don't know of any light show but googling suggests that it has been done on occasion.

I have been in paris twice but never heard of it. I think that's because there is a night light show on Effel Tower near the cathedral so everyone just goes there. Also the cathedral was always crowded!

I've spent years in Paris and have never heard of a "light show". Also have never seen Notre Dame crowded, and it's not "near" the Eiffel Tower. Quite far actually.

Could you be thinking of the light show at Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Canada?

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/What-To-Do/Events/and-then-there-was-light

In French many of the cathedrals are called "Notre Dame de...fill in name of city ".
I wonder if you have seen info for a cathedral elsewhere. Several of the cathedrals in northern France have light shows in the summer and into early fall. We saw a cathedral light show in both Chartres and Rouen last September. They were amazing.

No light show at Notre Dame in Paris.
Apparently your information is out-of-date.

Thanks everyone. I got this information about the Sound and Light show from the Rick Steves 2017 PARIS book page 106. It is in bold and states it "runs in the summer twice a week"....

I checked "son et lumiere notre dame de paris" and found nothing about a sound and light show.

There have been special illuminations once in a great while at Notre Dame in Paris, but not on a regular basis.
There is, however, a spectacular sound and light show at the Reims cathedral.
Perhaps this was a typo? Sometimes RS doesn't get his facts straight.

"Sometimes RS doesn't get his facts straight."

True.

"Perhaps this was a typo? Sometimes RS doesn't get his facts straight."

I think this is probably right and it might have been referring to the light show at the Cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres (not Paris).

I have heard of this at Notre-Dame de Reims as well, but not at Notre-Dame de Paris.

Chartres Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres) has a great light show. In fact, many buildings in town are illuminated, and it is a snipe hunt to find them all. A wonderful stop 4 weeks ago for my wife and myself.

I, too, have been looking for more information about the Paris Notre Dame Cathedral Light Show after reading about it in Rick's book. Can't find a thing except for this video which was taken in 2011. I'll be in Paris next week and we're going to return to the Cathedral at night to check it out. If there is a light show, I'll let everyone know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjnIxd8ETKA

Update. This web site promotes the Notre Dame Light Show but it is dated August 2014.
http://blog.parispass.com/late-nights-at-notre-dame-cathedral/

The page has a form to submit for questions and I have asked if these light shows are still being presented.

Hope to hear back from them before we leave for Paris next week.

It's worth an overnight in Chartres to see the light show there.

Hi Tara, I've been to Paris many times and am not aware that there is a light show at Notre Dame. It is a wonderful cathedral and if you can do the stairs, very worthwhile to spend some time with the gargoyles! Chartres is also terrific but (in my opinion), the best light show is at Reims Cathedral. Absolutely amazing, a short train trip from Paris. Worth an overnight. Hope you have a fantastic trip!

If you want to climb the Towers of Notre Dame, there are now ticket machines on the left side looking at Notre Dame in which you enter the number in your party.
It will tell you how long you have to wait - or not.

Also, there's an app "JeFile" which does the same thing.

Thanks Donna. Adding Reims to my bucket list.

chexbres, that's great info, thanks!

We lucked out and happened to be in the right place at the right time tonight. We got to see a spectacular light show at Notre Dame! They had tickets online, but were sold out. So, we stood outside the gate and could see just fine. What a cool experience.

amismash--What are you talking about?
The permanent fence and gate around N.D de Paris are close to the Cathedral; did someone erect some sort of barrier further away?

Where was the light show projected? What sort of tickets could be needed for an outside show. Who sponsored this show? Could you provide a link to this light show? How often is it? You seem to be the only one who has spotted this Loch Ness light show.

There is currently a special illumination of the exterior happening through Saturday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WWI. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/breathtaking-light-show-notre-dame-cathedral-commemorates-wwi-n819171

Here's an article from today's Le Figaro - apparently it's absolutely spectacular, but alas, all the tickets have already been sold.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/arts-expositions/2017/11/09/03015-20171109ARTFIG00007-epoustouflante-mise-en-lumiere-de-notre-dame-de-paris.php

Thanks Michelle and Kim. It says it's temporary until Saturday night only, the exterior projection lasts 20 minutes, followed by an interior projection with organ accompaniment. The story is a French nurse reciting the history of N.D. to a dying American soldier in WW I. Language or languages of recitation??

Tickets were free and all gone. It's barricaded off further from the Cathedral than the intact gates. There are two sessions each night.

We can hope this is something they consider doing again.

I can’t speak if there is a light show currently on Notre Dame, but there used to be. I have seen it on a couple of occasions and it was very good. It started after 10 pm in the summer. They had special river cruises that passed Notre Dame and the lights were choreographed to the music on the ship. The light show was narrated and told a story about a famous event in French history. Unfortunately, it was in French and the transcripts were all taken by the time by the time I got on the boat. You might want to check the Seine River cruise schedule to see if they offer it. It was considerably more money than the ones that left before 10 pm.

a friend who went says they did the narration in French, but that other languages were available via headset.

If you do google images for Notre Dame Cathedral LIght Show there are many pictures. Some of the effects are beautiful, others a bit garish. Sadly, the show is temporary. I believe it ends in a few days.

It's over already.

If you want to get headsets, next year, better get there really early.