Reopened 8 months ago, Notre-Dame once again becomes the most visited monument in France

August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, has always held a special resonance in front of Notre-Dame. But this year, the celebration takes on a new dimension: eight months after its reopening, the cathedral is poised to once again become the most visited site in the country.

Since December 8, 2024, the flow has never stopped. Day after day, nearly 35,000 visitors pass through its doors, driven by the desire to rediscover this Gothic jewel resurrected from the flames.

The counter already shows 7 million admissions, and projections place it well beyond 12 million by the end of the year. Enough to dethrone, without suspense, the current number one: the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

A spectacular comeback

Before the 2019 fire, Notre-Dame already dominated the list of French monuments, far ahead of its rivals.

The forced suspension of visits had opened the way for other champions: the Sacré-Coeur and its 9 million curious visitors in 2024, the Louvre and its 8.7 million admissions, or Versailles and its 8.4 million history enthusiasts.

This hierarchy should soon be overturned. For if the stone lady attracts the crowds, she also retains them: the restoration has enhanced its volumes, restored the splendor of the stained-glass windows, and given both worshippers and tourists a space that is both familiar and renewed.

French tourism in figures

Behind the top three, the Eiffel Tower (6.3 million), the Musée d'Orsay (5 million), the Lourdes sanctuary (3.2 million) and the Pompidou Centre (also 3.2 million) complete the list of cultural heavyweights.

Mont-Saint-Michel follows with 2.7 million visitors, the Arc de Triomphe with 1.75 million, and the City of Carcassonne closes the top 10, its ramparts welcoming nearly 2 million curious visitors per year.

An icon rediscovered

On the burning square on this August 15th, the wait sometimes lasts hours. But the reward is worth it: crossing the threshold of Notre-Dame once again means reconnecting with a symbol that goes beyond Paris, France, and touches the collective imagination.

A symbol of faith for some, a universal heritage for others, the cathedral succeeds in combining meditation and tourist appeal.

By 2025, she will not only have regained her followers. She will have reclaimed her throne.