Notre Dame, which has been largely closed since a destructive fire in 2019, has a plan for reopening. But the new Notre Dame is going to be more socially and environmentally friendly.

Been hankering to visit Notre Dame? For the first time since the headline-making 2019 fire caused major destruction and shut down one of the world’s most famous churches, we have an update. Namely, a re-opening date: 2024. (We promise it will be here before we know it). Plus, Parisian officials also released the design plans for the new cathedral and grounds.

President Macron has said that the iconic building will be open for services and visitors by 2024, when Paris is hosting the Olympics. But the final phase of the new design plan (which includes reshaping the grounds) won’t begin until the scaffolding has been removed from the cathedral. With that said, a staggered reopening means that the entirety of the new complex won’t be finished until 2027. 

While the 2019 fire didn’t burn down the entire building, the wooden attic and the lead-sheathed roof were destroyed. Reconstruction means a new roof, along with a new lead sheath—a massive build project that will take a total of five years by the time the cathedral is open to the public again.

But for those who want to see the iconic facade of a church that 13 million people per year flocked to before the fire, there’s good news: The front plaza has been open since May 2020. The crypt beneath the cathedral, which was undamaged by flames but contaminated by lead dust from the roof, re-opened in September of 2020. At least parts of Notre Dame are expected to stay open throughout the rest of the renovations.