Cathedrale Notre Dame Inside: a timeless journey

For centuries, Notre-Dame de Paris has stood as a beacon of faith, art, and history, captivating travelers from around the world. Now, after years of restoration, its doors have reopened, revealing the breathtaking beauty of the Cathedral Notre Dame inside once more. But seeing it on your own is one thing—experiencing it with an expert guide is another.

Join us on an unforgettable journey where every sculpture, stained-glass window, and vaulted ceiling tells a story. Whether you’re eager to explore its grand nave, uncover the secrets of its stunning rose windows, or learn about the treasures hidden within its walls, our exclusive guided tours bring Notre Dame to life like never before.

Standing proudly on the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame de Paris is not just a cathedral—it is a symbol of French heritage, faith, and artistic genius. This gothic masterpiece has captivated visitors for centuries with its breathtaking architecture and deep historical significance. After years of meticulous restoration following the 2019 fire, Notre Dame officially reopened its doors on December 8, 2024, welcoming visitors once again to admire its grandeur.

However, guided tours inside the cathedral will officially restart on June 9, 2024. Until then, you can still immerse yourself in its history with our exclusive exterior and silent interior tour, where you’ll discover Notre Dame’s fascinating past, its architectural secrets, and the stories behind its sculptures and stained glass—all while respecting the sacred atmosphere inside.

Let’s explore first this milestone which allowed cathedrals like Notre Dame de Paris to exist : the ribbed vault.

The ribbed vault was a groundbreaking architectural innovation of the gothic era, and its impact on cathedral construction was revolutionary for several key reasons:

1. Greater height & verticality

Unlike the earlier romanesque barrel vaults, which were heavy and required thick walls, ribbed vaults distributed weight more efficiently. This allowed architects to build taller, more slender structures, creating the breathtaking verticality seen in Notre Dame de Paris.

2. Larger windows & more light

By concentrating weight along the ribs instead of solid walls, ribbed vaults freed up space for massive stained-glass windows—such as Notre Dame’s rose windows. This flooded cathedrals with natural light, reinforcing the idea of divine illumination and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

3. Flexibility in design

Romanesque vaults had rigid, semi-circular shapes, but ribbed vaults allowed for more complex and varied designs. Architects could experiment with pointed arches and crossing ribs, creating intricate, web-like patterns that enhanced both structure and beauty.

4. Structural strength & efficiency

With ribs acting as a skeletal framework, the vaults became lighter yet stronger. This meant fewer materials, lower construction costs, and greater durability—key factors in allowing cathedrals like Notre Dame to stand for centuries.

5. A symbol of divine ascent

Beyond function, ribbed vaults guided the eye upward, reinforcing the spiritual experience of gothic cathedrals. Their delicate yet soaring design mirrored the soul’s journey toward heaven, aligning perfectly with medieval religious thought.

In short, ribbed vaults transformed architecture, allowing for the grandeur, light, and ethereal beauty that define gothic masterpieces like Notre Dame. It’s something that we wouldn’t be able to reproduce today, which shows how talented and innovative these builders were.

As you enter through the cathedral’s massive doors, you will find yourself in the grand nave, a vast space filled with soaring ribbed vaults and towering columns. The sheer scale of the cathedral is awe-inspiring, with its height emphasizing the verticality typical of gothic architecture. This impressive height is more than just an architectural marvel—it’s a spiritual symbol. Inspired by the vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem, its towering vaults, pointed arches, and radiant stained-glass windows create an ethereal space that lifts the soul toward the divine. The cathedral’s verticality and light-filled interior were designed to reflect the celestial city described in the Book of Revelation, offering visitors a glimpse of paradise on Earth.

Walking through the Cathedral Notre Dame inside, you will be struck by the sheer verticality of the grand nave, a space designed to lift the soul toward the divine.

One of the most breathtaking features inside Notre Dame is its magnificent stained glass windows. The most famous are the rose windows, located on the north and south sides of the cathedral. Dating back to the 13th century, these enormous circular windows depict biblical scenes and saints in vibrant colors. As sunlight filters through, the cathedral is bathed in a mesmerizing glow of blues, reds, and golds, creating a truly spiritual atmosphere.

Further inside, you will come across the choir and the high altar, where many of the cathedral’s religious ceremonies take place. The altar is adorned with sculptures, including the moving 18th-century Pietà by Nicolas Coustou. Surrounding the choir, you will find intricately carved wooden stalls and a stunning screen known as the choir enclosure, which is covered with delicate biblical reliefs.

For those interested in sacred relics and treasures, the treasury of Notre Dame is a must-visit. It houses some of the most precious artifacts in christian history, including relics believed to be from the Passion of Christ, such as the Crown of Thorns.

The treasury also displays exquisite liturgical objects, ornate crosses, and historical vestments.

The Saint Louis tunic, also known as the tunic of Saint Louis, is a revered relic believed to have belonged to King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis). It is a simple, long-sleeved gambeson-like garment made of undyed linen or silk, reflecting the king’s humility and deep christian devotion. It is housed in Notre Dame’s treasury, alongside other sacred artifacts, including the Crown of Thorns, which Saint Louis brought to France in the 13th century. Indeed, in 1239, he purchased this relic from Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople, who was struggling financially and needed support for the Latin Empire. In addition to the Crown of Thorns, Louis IX also acquired other Passion relics, such as fragments of the True Cross, the Holy Lance, and the Holy Sponge.

To house these precious relics, Louis IX commissioned the construction of the Sainte-Chapelle in 1241, and it was completed in 1248. This gothic masterpiece, located within the royal palace on the Île de la Cité – quite close to Notre Dame Cathedral, was designed as a reliquary made of glass and stone. However, before the Sainte-Chapelle was built, the Crown of Thorns was first temporarily housed in Notre Dame upon its arrival in Paris in 1239.

So these relics have been firstly host into Notre Dame, then into the Sainte-Chapelle and now back in Notre Dame. They have been moved from the Sainte-Chapelle to Notre Dame after the French Revolution. Actually, during the French Revolution (1789-1799), the Sainte-Chapelle, which belonged to the royal domain, was seized as national property. The revolutionaries, hostile to both the monarchy and the Church, ransacked many places of worship and destroyed relics and religious artifacts.

• The Passion relics escaped destruction thanks to clergy members who hid them for safekeeping.
• In 1791, they were transferred to the treasury of Notre Dame, which still belonged to the clergy and seemed to be a safer location.

After the turmoil of the Revolution, the Sainte-Chapelle never regained its original function as the sanctuary of the royal relics. This was due to several reasons:

• The French monarchy, weakened and fragmented after the Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire, no longer had the same power to uphold the veneration of the relics.
• Notre Dame de Paris, as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris, naturally became the primary place of conservation for the relics from the 19th century onward.

After the 2019 fire, during the restoration time, the relics have been kept at the Louvre museum until the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December 2024.

Along the sides of the cathedral, numerous side chapels provide quiet spaces for prayer and reflection. These chapels are dedicated to various saints and feature beautiful altarpieces, paintings, and sculptures. Many of them contain tombs of important figures from French history, further emphasizing the cathedral’s role as a spiritual and cultural landmark.

One of the grandest musical instruments in the world, Notre Dame’s great organ has fascinated visitors and musicians for centuries. Though it was damaged in the fire, it is being meticulously restored. When fully functional, its thousands of pipes produce a majestic sound that resonates throughout the cathedral, making it a key feature of Notre Dame’s musical heritage.

Notre Dame de Paris is more than just a building; it is a living monument that has witnessed centuries of French history, from the coronation of emperors to national celebrations. As it reopens, it will once again welcome visitors from around the world, offering them a glimpse into its breathtaking beauty and spiritual significance.