The Bell Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral

Standing tall over the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral invites visitors to climb its Bell Towers for one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in Paris. These towers have witnessed centuries of history—from ringing out for royal celebrations to falling silent during war—and stand today as timeless symbols of Paris’s resilience and grace.

The Bell Towers were reopened after five years of restoration over the weekend of September 20th and 21st, 2025 to celebrate the Journées Patrimoines (Heritage Days) in Paris. The spectacular tour of the Bell Towers of Notre-Dame has been redesigned to enhance visitors’ experience. After passing airport-style security, you ascend the South Tower up the spiral stone staircase (1), with stylish new lighting, sturdy handrails, and helpful signage that indicates how many steps you have left. The stone steps can be slippery! We included a map provided by the Cathedral to show the route of the visit.

There are two stops to help visitors rest during the ascent. The first stop (2) contains information about the Bell Towers and displays two original chimeras alongside detailed scale models of the cathedral and its towers. There is also an additional gift shop!  While the second is the renovated Quadrilobe Room (3), with its elegant flower-shaped windows. Although it is a small room, visitors can admire centuries-old wooden beams, now meticulously cleaned, and the new double-helix oak staircase, crafted especially for the tower’s reopening. This leads upward into the belfry, where both bourdon bells (4) are hung.

Access to the summit (5) is heavily controlled to prevent overcrowding, ensuring everyone safely enjoys the climb. At the top of the South Tower, visitors are let up to the Summit in groups and are granted only five minutes to take in the 360° panorama of Paris. You will be asked to exit after your time is up.

The descent leads across the Courtyard of the Cisterns (6) once used to collect rainwater. Here, visitors find more information about the gargoyles and chimeras and can look through a glass window to see the cathedral’s rebuilt vast wooden framework supporting the new roof and spire.

After crossing to the North Tower, there is another room to see one of the smaller bells, now out of service. Visitors descend to conclude the tour, exiting onto Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame (7). It is easy to feel a bit nauseous walking down in the spiral, so we recommend you take it slow.

Et voila! You will have completed a journey that blends history, architecture, and emotion and rediscovered Notre Dame’s timeless voice.

The Bell Towers of Notre-Dame are open daily, but opening hours vary according to the season:

From April to September: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (last admission at 10:00 PM)

From October to March: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (last admission at 4:30 PM)

Closed on January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th.

We recommend checking the official Notre-Dame Bell Towers website before your visit, as schedules may change due to restoration work or special events.

The Bell Towers may also close if there is exceptionally bad weather conditions with tickets automatically refunded in this case.

Access to the towers is not included in a standard cathedral visit, which is always free to enter. A special ticket is required to climb the Bell Towers, even if you can visit for free!

• Regular rate: €16
• Free: children under 18 (must be accompanied by an adult), EU residents under 26 years old, card holders (Paris Museum pass, carte culture, carte ICOM) or visitors on the first Sunday of each month (November to March)

Some visitors may be turned away at the entrance and are not recommended to attempt the visit, including people with heart problems, those prone to dizziness, pregnant women and young children (less than 6 years old).

Tickets must be booked online in advance through the official website. They are NOT sold onsite.

Please Note: Group Bookings are NOT possible and large groups (more than 7 guests) are not permitted. Each member must be able to present their own e-ticket when asked.

The visit involves 424 steps and there is no elevator at any point, making it unsuitable for visitors with reduced mobility and/or flexibility. The stone steps are also a bit slippery, especially if wet, so you need to watch your step!

The staircase is also sometimes very narrow and low, requiring bending down. Visitors should be very aware not to hit their head! Comfortable shoes are a must and it can be very hot during summer.

There are emergency call buttons throughout the ascent in case visitors experience any problems.

There are no visitor facilities such as toilets or water stations in the Bell Towers, so it is encouraged to bring a full bottle of water!

There is no place to store baggage at the site.

Plan about 45 minutes to 1 hour for the full experience. The climb of the tower is rewarded by a breathtaking panoramic view of Paris and the Seine River, with a closer look at the famous gargoyles and chimeras.

For fewer crowds and the best light for photography, aim for early morning or late afternoon visits to the Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral. The golden hues of sunset create unforgettable views of Île de la Cité and the city’s skyline. However, the time slots are maxed out at 30 people to control overcrowding.

The Bell Towers of Notre Dame are not just essential to the Cathedral’s structure. They add significant decorative elements and serve a symbolic purpose. Now reopened to the public, you can visit the Bell Towers to relive its medieval grandeur.

Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral’s twin towers are the perfect embodiment of Gothic balance and verticality. Each stands nearly 69 meters high (226 feet), a marvel of precision and proportion that once made Notre Dame the tallest building in Europe. It remained the tallest structure in Paris until the completion of the Eiffel Tower, which was finished in 1889. The cathedral’s bell towers are symmetrically positioned, creating a balanced design that draws the eye upward, encouraging a sense of awe and reverence. These same feelings are reflected after entering the Cathedral. These features are integral to the Gothic aesthetic, where churches and cathedrals embodied the connection between heaven and earth.

Though they appear symmetrical, a closer look reveals that the bell towers are not perfectly identical!

On the left hand side, the North Tower, also known as the Great Tower, was completed in 1240 and is slightly wider than the South Tower, or the Small Tower,  a difference of only 1.22 meters (4 feet)!

The North Tower also features more intricate carvings and deeper recesses in its arches, highlighting the shift toward decorative flamboyance that defined later Gothic style. The South Tower was finished several years later and is thought to be more robust with heavier buttresses to ensure greater stability under the weight of the massive bells housed inside. These subtle variations tell the story of medieval craftsmanship and suggest two teams of builders. These differences sometimes confused and frustrated restorers in the 19th century. Architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc stated he preferred the North Tower, believing that its craftsmanship and appearance were better built and more beautifully done!

Learn more about these differences here!

The towers’ fame owes much to Victor Hugo’s 1831 masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. In his novel, the cathedral becomes a living character — its towers the stage for Quasimodo’s solitude and Esmeralda’s tragedy. Hugo’s vivid portrayal of Notre Dame was more than storytelling; it was an act of preservation. At the time of his writing, the cathedral was deteriorating, and much of Paris viewed Gothic architecture as outdated. Hugo’s passionate descriptions reignited national pride, transforming the cathedral into a symbol of France’s medieval soul. His work sparked a public movement to save the monument, leading directly to the 19th-century restoration overseen by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who meticulously rebuilt the towers, chimeras, and spire with a romantic yet historically informed vision. The project not only restored Notre Dame’s grandeur but also revived France’s appreciation for Gothic heritage. Visiting the bell towers today feels like stepping into Hugo’s vision — a poetic encounter with the very stones that inspired a cultural renaissance!

Although the bells have changed many times over the centuries, the assemblage remains one of the most significant features of the Cathedral. Their music transforms Ile de la Cite into a heavenly concert, taking you back in time to Medieval Paris!

Notre Dame houses 21 bells, including 10 within the two bell towers. Each has its own tone, purpose, and personality.

The North Tower holds the 8 smaller bells, which are affectionately called benjamines after Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, while in the South Tower there are the two larger bells called bourdons known for their deep tone.

During their visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, visitors can climb up the Bell Towers to see the bells up close!

Learn about all the Bells of Notre Dame de Paris

The bells have long been the steady heartbeat of Paris. They ring for multiple purposes:

Religious events: Bells rang to signal the start of Mass, major feast days, or the time for prayer.

Public announcements: Bells were used to announce important news, such as royal births or deaths, and even to warn of fire or attack.

Signaling time: Much like town clocks, the bells were used to mark the passage of time throughout the day.

Before the Revolution: They announced royal births, deaths, and military victories.

During the Revolution: They fell silent with nearly all the bells melted down for cannonballs.

Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th Century Restoration: During the mid-1800s, architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc led an ambitious restoration that reintroduced missing sculptures, rebuilt damaged stonework, and installed a new set of bells after centuries of wear.

In World War I: The bells of Notre Dame continued to ring throughout the Great War, though often with somber tones. In 1918, Emmanuel tolled with solemn pride to celebrate the Armistice.

In World War II: Silenced during the German Occupation, their sound returned in 1944, when Emmanuel proudly rang to celebrate the Liberation of Paris, echoing freedom across the Seine.

2013: The Bells of Notre Dame were replaced using traditional casting methods in honor of the Cathedral’s 850th birthday.

In April 2019: As fire consumed the roof, firefighters fought to save the towers and the bells from collapse — and succeeded.

The 2024 Summer Olympics: A special bell that was cast for the Olympic Games was donated to the Cathedral and rang for its reopening.

Reopening of the Cathedral: After five years of restoration, Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to the public at Christmas 2024.

Cast in the 17th century and weighing over 13 tons, the largest bourdon, Emmanuel, resides in the South Tower. Its name, given by the Sun King Louis XIV in 1683, means “God is with us.” Emmanuel is recognized as having amazing sound quality, ringing in F sharp. It can be heard from over a kilometer away! Unlike the other bells of Notre Dame, Emmanuel was spared during the French Revolution, saved from destruction thanks to the reverence it inspired among Parisians. Its continued survival symbolizes hope, continuity, and the unbroken spirit of Notre Dame.

Another National Treasure at Notre Dame: The Crown of Thorns

The choice of names for the new bells pays homage to key figures who shaped the spiritual and cultural life of Paris. As mentioned in 13th and 14th century records, the original bells were named for various saints, including Marie, Gilbert, Guillaume, Pasquier, Chambellan, Louis, Nicolas, and Luc.

The South Tower houses both bourdons, Emmanuel and its sister Marie, named in 2013 in honor of the protector of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Virgin Mary and as a tribute to the original bourdon Marie that rang from 1378 until it was melted during the French Revolution. The North Tower has the eight benjamines bells, presented in 2013, listed here in descending order of size:

Gabriel – in homage to the Archangel Gabriel of the Annunciation, reviving the name of the largest bell in the North Tower during the 15th century.

Anne-Geneviève – honoring Saint Anne, mother of Mary, and Saint Geneviève, patron saint of Paris.

Denis – in memory of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris.

Marcel – commemorating Saint Marcel, the ninth bishop of Paris in the 5th century.

Étienne – recalling the old cathedral church of Paris, once dedicated to Saint Stephen.

Benoît-Joseph – in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, who was pontiff at the time of the bells’ consecration in 2013, marking Notre-Dame’s 850th anniversary.

Maurice – paying tribute to Maurice de Sully, the bishop of Paris who laid the first stone of the cathedral in 1163.

Jean-Marie – celebrating Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, 139th Archbishop of Paris, who served from 1981 to 2005.

Together, these bells form a harmonious ensemble — a symbolic chorus blending faith, history, and strength. Each toll connects the present to centuries of devotion, reminding visitors that Notre Dame’s voice continues to resonate with the spirit of Paris itself.