France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the world’s most visited and sacred landmarks, is expected to draw record crowds this year as it approaches the one-year anniversary of its grand reopening. The Gothic masterpiece, nearly destroyed by fire in April 2019, is projected to receive more than 12 million visitors in 2025 — with some estimates reaching 15 million.
Michel Picaud, president of the nonprofit Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, told Fox News Digital that the cathedral reached 8 million visitors by August. “We are certainly the most visited monument and cathedral in France,” said Picaud. “We expect to have 12 million visitors this year. So it’s typically a very high level of visits, and we are very happy [about] that.”
The restoration, launched after the devastating blaze, continues in multiple stages. “In the interior of the cathedral, we had to replace what had been destroyed in the fire,” Picaud said. The next phase will span four years and focus on the exterior — including the cathedral’s famous flying buttresses, gargoyles, and grotesques. New stained-glass windows will also be installed.
Construction of Notre Dame began in 1163 and took nearly two centuries to complete. The cathedral has stood as a symbol of Christian faith in Paris for more than 800 years. Services are once again held daily, with visitor numbers adjusted depending on the schedule of worship.
The tower circuit, reopened in September, allows guests to climb 424 steps to the top for panoramic views of Paris. The tower stands 226 feet tall, with its spire reaching 315 feet high. Picaud called the view “wonderful,” reflecting renewed hope for one of Christianity’s most enduring landmarks.
