Hi! In an effort to consolidate news/information, I created this post/topic to provide updates on the reopening of the Notre Dame Bell Towers.
As of June 30th, the target date reopening date is Saturday, September 20th. Tickets will go on sale sometime at the beginning of September (Date, TBC). No other specific ticketing information has been confirmed/released yet, but advanced reservations will be required.
Since the bell towers are considered a tourist site, there will be an entrance fee of €16 per person.
As of now, guided tours/tour groups will not be allowed in the bell towers, due to the limited amount of capacity/space and to keep the flow of visitors moving smoothly. A maximum of 100 visitors will be allowed to visit the bell towers at a time.
The direction of the visitor route through the bell towers will be reversed from what it was before the fire. As of now, the plan for the new visitor route is:
- Enter through the south tower (the right side of the cathedral).
- Visit a room that's newly open to the public on the "first level" within the tower that will have exhibitions showcasing the cathedral’s history, key dates of its construction, major historical events, and replica molds of 3 of the chimera (The Stryge, The Pelican and The Dog-headed Woman).
- A new wooden staircase is being built. This staircase will be one of the most impressive elements of the restoration in the bell towers and it's a completely new addition to Notre Dame! It’s a “double-helix staircase”, which has two separate spirals that intertwine, allowing one side for walking up and the other side for walking down. People going opposite directions won’t run into each other, but can see each other through the middle!
- (TBC) Visit the Gallery of Chimeras, but only partially/on the south side (the north side will be now be closed to the public).
- Climb inside the south belfry and see the two bells, Emmanuel and Marie.
- Climb the stairs to the terrace at the very top of the south tower.
- Climb down to the terrace between the south and north tower. This is a new area that wasn't not open to the public before the fire. There will be a viewing area to see inside the newly rebuilt "Forest", the wooden framework of the roof!
- Pass by the north belfry (the north tower/the bells in the north tower are functioning, so this area won't be as accessible as the south tower)
- On the descent, there will be a gift shop. It’s still TBC if the gift shop will remain in the same room it was before the fire, or if it will be moved to a new location.
- Exit out of the north tower (the left side of the cathedral).