https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A year after reopening to the public, Notre-Dame cathedral has drawn more than 11 million visitors, flocking to admire its restored pale stone and minimalist furnishings after the 2019 blaze that devastated the Paris landmark. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251205/11-million-flock-to-notre-dame-in-year-since-rising-from-devastating-fire Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:41:10 +0100 11-million-flock-to-notre-dame-in-year-since-rising-from-devastating-fire The restored cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris is to feature on new €2 coins commissioned by the French national mint, it has been revealed. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251028/paris-notre-dame-to-feature-on-new-e2-coins Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:26:29 +0100 paris-notre-dame-to-feature-on-new-e2-coins After being inaugurated by French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, the two great mediaeval towers of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris opened for public visits on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250919/paris-notre-dame-towers-ready-to-thrill-visitors-after-fire Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:04:32 +0200 paris-notre-dame-towers-ready-to-thrill-visitors-after-fire A statue of the apostle Saint Thomas was on Thursday returned to Notre-Dame in Paris, which has now recovered all 16 statues that adorned the base of its spire before a 2019 devastating fire. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250724/notre-dame-gets-back-st-thomas-statue-adorning-spire-base Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:59:34 +0200 notre-dame-gets-back-st-thomas-statue-adorning-spire-base French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday will bestow awards on around 100 craftspeople and officials who helped restore Notre Dame to its former glory after a fire nearly destroyed the beloved Paris cathedral six years ago. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250415/macron-to-honour-craftspeople-who-rebuilt-notre-dame Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:44:32 +0200 macron-to-honour-craftspeople-who-rebuilt-notre-dame A French organisation dedicated to the conservation of historic heritage is offering a chance for members of the public to win an authentic fragment of Notre Dame cathedral, as part of a fundraising drive. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250305/french-fundraiser-offers-chance-to-win-piece-of-notre-dame Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:53:10 +0100 french-fundraiser-offers-chance-to-win-piece-of-notre-dame Five years after the devastating fire, Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris has finally opened its doors to visitors again - here's a look at the system for ticketing, and when you can visit. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240830/tickets-and-dates-all-you-need-to-know-about-notre-dame-reopening Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:57:03 +0200 tickets-and-dates-all-you-need-to-know-about-notre-dame-reopening Designs for six new stained glass windows in fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral were unveiled for the first time on Wednesday, with contemporary French painter Claire Tabouret chosen for a project intended to add a modern flourish to the 12th-century masterpiece. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241219/notre-dame-cathedral-unveils-controversial-new-stained-glass-windows Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:41:12 +0100 notre-dame-cathedral-unveils-controversial-new-stained-glass-windows Hundreds of people queued for hours in the rain in front of Paris' newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral on Monday, as online ticketing systems immediately sold out. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241210/long-waits-as-paris-visitors-scramble-to-see-newly-re-opened-notre-dame Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:26:16 +0100 long-waits-as-paris-visitors-scramble-to-see-newly-re-opened-notre-dame French officials solved an awkward seating dilemma at the Notre Dame cathedral reopening on Saturday by placing First Lady Brigitte Macron between US President-elect Donald Trump and Joe Biden's wife and daughter in the front row at the ceremony. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241208/french-first-lady-helps-keep-trump-bidens-apart-at-notre-dame Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:44:54 +0100 french-first-lady-helps-keep-trump-bidens-apart-at-notre-dame Newly restored Notre Dame cathedral held its first mass on Sunday, with Christians celebrating the return of the French capital's most famous place of worship after a historic reopening ceremony. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241208/notre-dame-to-hold-first-public-service-after-five-year-restoration Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:23:15 +0100 notre-dame-to-hold-first-public-service-after-five-year-restoration France celebrated the reopening of the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark during a 2019 blaze. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241208/open-your-doors-notre-dame-reopens-after-five-year-refit Sun, 08 Dec 2024 08:48:29 +0100 open-your-doors-notre-dame-reopens-after-five-year-refit Elon Musk, the world's richest man and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, made a surprise appearance Saturday at the ceremony marking the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241207/musk-in-paris-ahead-of-notre-dame-re-opening Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:46:26 +0100 musk-in-paris-ahead-of-notre-dame-re-opening With Donald Trump, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and dozens of other world leaders in town Saturday for the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral, Emmanuel Macron has succeeded in making Paris the capital of international diplomacy for the day. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241207/with-trump-in-paris-notre-dame-reopening-becomes-hub-for-diplomacy Sat, 07 Dec 2024 15:39:11 +0100 with-trump-in-paris-notre-dame-reopening-becomes-hub-for-diplomacy "We can do it!" President Emmanuel Macron told France on April 16, 2019, the day after the fire that ravaged Notre Dame, as he set a target of five years to rebuild the great mediaeval edifice in the heart of Paris to its former glory. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241207/political-storm-clouds-macrons-notre-dame-glory Sat, 07 Dec 2024 10:50:48 +0100 political-storm-clouds-macrons-notre-dame-glory The more than five-year reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral has featured some near-miraculous recoveries, as well as several controversies. Here's a look back at the key moments. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241205/miracles-and-controversies-in-notre-dames-renaissance Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:07:31 +0100 miracles-and-controversies-in-notre-dames-renaissance The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will finally open its doors again to visitors this weekend with a ceremony attended by numerous heads of state. As a result, there will be a large security zone in the centre and restrictions on motorists. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241202/massive-security-zone-in-central-paris-at-weekend-as-notre-dame-reopens Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:11:34 +0100 massive-security-zone-in-central-paris-at-weekend-as-notre-dame-reopens It won't reopen for another week but on Friday media were allowed inside the newly-restored Notre-Dame cathedral for the first time, as president Emmanuel Macron visited to thank the 2,000 people who have worked on the incredible restoration. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241129/in-pictures-inside-paris-newly-renovated-notre-dame-cathedral Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:33:45 +0100 in-pictures-inside-paris-newly-renovated-notre-dame-cathedral Pope Francis will visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on December 15, just days after skipping the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, the Vatican said Saturday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241123/pope-to-skip-notre-dame-opening-for-corsica-visit Sat, 23 Nov 2024 15:47:52 +0100 pope-to-skip-notre-dame-opening-for-corsica-visit France's powerful culture minister on Monday locked horns with the country's Roman Catholic establishment on whether tourists should pay to enter Notre Dame cathedral when it reopens next month. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241119/church-and-state-clash-over-entry-fee-for-pariss-notre-dame Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:18:09 +0100 church-and-state-clash-over-entry-fee-for-pariss-notre-dame