Paris - Climbing Notre Dame and Cluny on Free Sunday

Lines to climb the tower are horrible, as anyone who has been to Paris can tell you. Personally, I don't see the attraction of climbing the tower, since the same view is available from other high points in Paris without all of the effort.

Yes, a similar view of PARIS can be had several different ways. However, getting up close and personal with the gargoyles is priceless, IMO.

The tower climb, like most similar climbs, does have a few small places to pull back and let others pass. Don't worry too much unless you are really in poor shape (in that case, don't try it) because, after the first 100 steps no one is climbing very fast.

The trick with climbing the Towers is to allow everyone to pass you and bring up the rear of the group. They only let people up in groups of about 20,, so it is simple to stand aside once in, and let everyone pass you. There are a few pull outs,, small, but you can stop and breath for a few minutes. Very few people can rush up stairs, they are narrow, and winding up spiral like ,, so no sprinting!

I have never been to the Cluny on a free sunday,, but I don't think it would be as crowded as many of the well known museums will be. I personally would never do the Lourve or Orsay on those days.. I accidently did Louvre once on a free day and it was insane. The Cluny is likely to be a safer choice then most,, as it has never been even remotely crowded the 3 times I have been ( all in summer) .

I totally agree with Pat's description of climbing the stairs. I also agree with Randy that it's priceless to climb the tower of Notre Dame. It's always a thrill for me. I'm not in great shape either and I can do it.

We just spent a month staying on Ile Saint Louis and passed Notre Dame every morning - if you get there by 8:45 am you will be at the front of the line when they open at 9 am. Later in the day the wait can be 2-3 hrs in July and August.

If you want a great elevated Paris view and stairs are a concern, consider the top floor of the Centre Pompidou. You can reach the top by escalator.

We were at the Cluny on free first Sunday last year (early afternoon I think). The museum was fairly crowded inside. Our line was long, but people coming out talked about how much longer it was than when they went in.
When we came out the line was minimal. If I were to do it again, I would walk around the area while waiting for the line to go down.

Thanks to everyone for the responses and suggestions.

I think I will probably attempt the climb assuming I can get there one morning before the crowds. I like the idea of letting others go on ahead in the group so I don't feel that I am holding any one up. I am not infirmed, I just know that my stamina is not so great. I will plan to bring a bottle of water and try to take it easy on the way up. I really want to see the gargoyles up close, so that is my main motivation.

I'll also scope out the Cluny on Sunday to see what the best time may be based on the crowds. I may end up getting there before Sunday and use the Museum Pass.

Thanks!

My husband enjoys climbing towers and tries to never miss doing this. A woman climbing the ND tower in his group had a panic attack and apparently was in great shape--800 steps total in tight area could be a challenge.

I googled how many steps and read it is 387 - not 800.

Nobody mentioned this, so I'll just throw it out. Although the tower is covered by the Museum Pass, this is one of the few Pass-attractions that does not allow you to skip an entrance queue. So, getting there early, as you mentioned, is probably your best option.

The ND Tower climb is not covered by the museum pass and the 300+ steps is just one way. My husband waited an hour and a half in light rain in a very long line. On our last trip to Paris this past May we never even got inside ND Cathedral due to long wait in line. Definitely go early to do the climb or see ND.

The interior of the cathedral itself is not covered by the pass (where admission is free anyway), but the tower is... unless both my memory and the official Museum Pass website are wrong.

Susan,, the pass does cover the Towers at Notre Dame,, but does not allow line skipping there.

The ND tower climb is divided into three segments. First you climb to an area which has a very nice souvenir shop. (You don't pass that shop again on the way down and it does have some unusual items.) Then you climb again to the cross-over level between the two towers. Here you can pause again if you wish. Finally, you do the last third of the climb.

I did this climb in 2008 (age 63) and it honestly was not that difficult. I would have done it again this past summer (DH did do it), but we got rained out in the morning and I didn't want to stand in line for an hour in the early evening.

You can get a free view from the 8th story of Le Printemps dept. store. You reach that level by escalators.

And if you do climb the Notre Dame tower hopefully you don't get dizzy easily. You go round-n-round on the way down.

Thanks again for all the advice!

On trips in December 05 and October 09, both times the lines were too long for the towers at ND so I've never gone. Would like to sometime. Sounds like getting there early is the key.
We went to the Cluny in the early afternoon on the Free Sunday in October and it wasn't bad at all. It's one of my favorite museums in Paris.