Visiting Notre Dame for the First Time Since the Fire

[@JaySwanson]

COMPLETELY forgot to post the official reservation link! Sorry - here you go: www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/visit/practical-information/reservation/

[@david.leikam]

Lovely impressions review.

[@pattiblackwood8546]

Thank you for sharing 😍

[@danielepedoussaut8860]

Horrible musique

[@ABigRadWolf]

I cried watching this. I watched the streams as it burned and I donated what little money I could to help the rebuild and to see all of these people here… I’m so glad it’s still there to welcome people with open arms. I’m not even a Christian I just loved the building and I know it’s important to so many. Thank you for sharing!

[@ogamiitto8627]

Thank you for your donation ! ❤️

[@jlzab6914]

🙏🏻🇨🇵

[@jean-yvesmartin6934]

Merci for the Help.

[@SupremeMasterofPotatoes]

❤

[@sebmaryf4703]

Merci de toute la france. 🇨🇵

[@DavidS5118]

As a child I spent many summers in Paris with my grandparents before we would go south to Lussan. Each and every year my grandparents would take me to Notre Dame. I loved the darkness and always thought “gothic” meant darkness but to see the cathedral as the she must have looked when built is nothing short of breathtaking. In all her glory she will continue to watch over Paris and France for millennia to come. Thank you Jay for sharing your visit.

[@almamater9566]

Most people associate gothic to darkness indeed. But that's actually the absolute opposite. The main reason for gothic architecture is to open up the walls and bring light in. This is what it was meant to look like when it was built. And it's absolutely insane to see it that way !! The restoration works are absolutely perfect. They respected medieval technics and used the exact same materials.

[@FanNy-ku6wt]

In fact when it was built it was all painted, what you see here is how it was after the renovation in the 19th century.

[@simondeep]

@@almamater9566 that’s fascinating. It reminds me of greek and roman sculpture-by today’s popular conception, they’re always white, but in reality many statues were painted. Completely colorful and all And that makes sense for Gothic-reason those magnificent windows were developed

[@almamater9566]

@@simondeep exactly ! And the main problem is we call medieval ages the ''dark'' ages because people used to think they were uneducated and ignorant. But artists, scientists, doctor's were much more advanced than WE think or know. That name doesn't help for its reputation. I can't even imagine how amazing antique temples or mediecal cathedrals looked like when they were painted. That must have been stunning.

[@Vinnie92350]

​@@FanNy-ku6wt From what I know, we are not sure if the interior of Notre Dame de Paris ever was all painted. Specialists are only sure that the exterior portals and the Gallery of Kings just above were painted. And if it ever was painted, it was probably just an imitation of the original white masonry like in many cathedrals in northern France. Even though Albi cathedral still has an amazing and colorful painted ceilling.

[@MT-im7hx]

I will be visiting Paris in March 2025 and I am looking forward to visiting Notre Dame again. I am so excited!

[@EricGauchet]

Nôtre Dame is an Emotions Place for French and people of Paris. And we are gratefull to all who donated for her rebuild from all over the world. Thks Jay to share this emotion you had when you eard the bells ringing.

[@itsasederki3533]

@@jean-paulpotet1988 tu ne vois pas qu'il est français, j'aimerai que tu nous fasses une démonstration de ta maîtrise de la langue de Shakespeare pour que l'on puisse te juger..

[@Darkeforce]

Just went in to Notre Dame on Wednesday evening. I wasn’t even planning on it, but I was walking past it after dinner and saw that they were still letting people in (it was like 9pm), so I thought I’d see if I could get in. Didn’t have a ticket or reservation whatsoever!No queue at all, and I walked right in. I have to tell you, it was an oddly emotional experience. I was overcome with such a sense of gratitude and humility. The cathedral looked perfect. Just absolutely perfect. That the cathedral could rise from the literal ashes is just a testament to so many people who poured their hearts, talents and treasure to its reconstruction. I’ll never forget the experience.

[@gillwhiteman7248]

I love that you put on a tie for the beautiful Notre Dame. It is difficult to explain to people who have never visited this church why it so quickly captures the heart of those who visit. I am so pleased that she is back and with new life and light.

[@gpoenviededonnermonnom9005]

Je note le respect que tu as d'avoir fait sorti ton costume pour la visite de Notre Dame, merci 👔

[@donfzic7471]

Merci à tous les artisans : d’hier, aujourd’hui et demain. Architectes,sculpteurs,charpentiers, artisans : du bois, de la pierre, du métal, du verre, … artistes de l’architecture, de la sculpture, de la peinture, des vitraux, de la musique, des orgues … ETC ! 🙏🫶👏😲😉

[@andyshacks7812]

It looks absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to visit and see for myself next June. !

[@bbbbgtm]

Nothing gets done quickly in Europe. The fact that it has been fully restored in five years is jaw dropping! The cathedral is stunning! I now have an excuse to head back to Paris. Au Revoir!

[@JaySwanson]

It really is impressive

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Maybe Italy, but surely not Germany.

[@abbofun9022]

“Nothing gets done quickly in Europe” . . What an utterly ignorant statement

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

@ I know I’m British, I don’t know our infrastructure projects, take an insane amount of time, but you can’t say Germany isn’t efficient. Also, Scandi countries are fantastic.

[@YOUENNNN]

BS... I just watched a video of two americans now living in France and they explain they are blown away how quick infrastructures, roads, rennovation, buidlings etc are made and almost pop-up by magic

[@lawriefoster5587]

I spent the month of July in 1969 in Paris at Cite` Universitaire....17 years old. Notre Dame was one of my homes...would stop in and ground myself within the history of its walls. Shall never forget it!! Was somewhat taken aback with the restoration and the loss of centuries of patina, of its softness and of its ghosts. Yes, the restoration is superb, the colors magnificent...it is as if Our Lady has put on a new dress.....but they had no choice.

[@rc9272]

Props to Emily and thank you team for this visual treat!

[@chrisallender5]

Thank you Emily, for working so hard to get the tickets . Without you, Jay wouldn’t have been able to bring us this amazing experience.

[@brucewilliams8714]

This is a splendid account of a truly remarkable achievement. 25 years ago, the cathedral we visited was gloomy with dust and incense smoke covering what you have so beautifully revealed. Many thanks from Australia 🇦🇺

[@jlzab6914]

Quelle Beauté, merci à tout ceux qui on rendu cela possible en si peu de temps 🙏🏻🇨🇵

[@JaySwanson]

🥂🥳

[@sunshinegorman3218]

The first time I came across your channel was the live stream of Notre Dame burning. That was heartbreaking. It was the first place I visited my first time in Paris. I got off the plane bright and early in the morning , had the hotel hold my luggage and went straight to her. I wanted that to be the start of my adventure. The smell being new and the same is pretty cool. The old and the new mingling. It makes a good metaphor.

[@jdm1dfw]

Your best video ever. Notre Dame is very special. Thank you for being respectful to our lady on your visit, and presenting the cathedral with the reference it deserves.

[@mbrolfe7504]

Thank you for showing the side chapels and how vibrant the paintings are now. I visited in November, 2018 and my memories are how dark, smoke stained and gloomy those walls were.

[@kathleentrued9359]

More side chapels when you can please. I’ve watched lots of videos and yours showed more than all others I viewed 🙏

[@grill38]

hundred of years of candles ... so yes

[@Robb-k6f]

Les murs sombres du aux sièges brûlés pendant des siècles 😢

[@Cor-on-YT]

​@@Robb-k6f*cierges

[@jean-yveslinet2814]

@@Robb-k6f au cas où, pour nos amis francophiles, il s'agit de **cierges**...

[@sadler451]

Thank you for taking us along on this incredible first look. I was there in October and would have loved to be able to see it in person. The sound of the bells at the beginning brought tears to my eyes. It is so awesome that Notre Dame has risen from the flames. It's a lesson for us all. Yeah, even when it seems impossible, we can rise.

[@hazelhoyte7668]

1:27 The bells! ❤❤❤

[@joellenmeek658]

It looks amazing. When I visited, 8 years ago, it was dark and mysterious but some of the side chapels looked neglected. I love the light and hope I get to see it in person. Thank you!

[@mand1960]

You echoed my thoughts with the change to the brightness inside. It's many years since I visited Paris and Notre Dame but I remember the smell of years of incense and candles and the sense of darkness. Thanks for sharing the experience

[@marshabailey1121]

It's hard for anyone who's ever visited the Notre Dame to not have a profound place for her in our hearts. You walk in and you just feel that this SACRED and holy. It envelopes you. There's just something about it. One time, I wandered in and the organist was practicing. Miraculous.

[@anndemoor3150]

How wonderful !! I watched your live at the time.. i cried.. I’m so grateful to see you going into the Notre Dame.. bisous Jay! Xx

[@keithgiblin2636]

Greetings from Fiji. Thank you very much for taking us with you on your joyful tour of the newly restored Notre-Dame. I have my own special memories of my times in that space - and grieved, just like you did, at the impact of the flames.

[@JaySwanson]

It was a rough night to be sure

[@debby6235]

Oooh it’s just stunning…wow. What an incredible job they did. I have goosebumps

[@mypublicchannel3884]

I graduated U. of Notre Dame back in the seventies. My first Sunday at Notre Dame was my last Sunday as a Catholic/Christian/Theist. I've written a book about it. But I love the school. A great place to be. Didn't even feel religious. Students from all over the world. Anyway, I've been to Paris 5 times. Last time was last year when I saw a closed cathedral. Very sad. Many people like me use Notre Dame as a central point to sightsee around Paris. It's right in the middle of the city of Paris. So glad it has been restored. It's a symbol of hope and inspiration for the world. It transcends all cultural lines.

[@JaySwanson]

Happy it's back online and illuminating our center again as well

[@PierreLaur-d3o]

Thanks to you❤❤

[@varoonnone7159]

I'm an Indo-Mauritian naturalised French, atheist from a hindu background and I love Notre-Dame and the centuries of resilience it represents

[@annawinkel6509]

Can’t wait to see it - when I lived in Paris 35 years ago I attended many of the free Sunday evening concerts. I last visited in 2015 with my husband and we had a photo taken with Notre Dame in the background. My son made a wood puzzle of that photo in his junior high woods class literally the week before the fire - he apologized because when he did the laser cutting of the wood the edges burned. The puzzle is a fitting reminder.

[@erinmh]

I'll never forget sitting at my desk at work, watching you livestream the fire. And those bells at 1:32 kind of brought a tear to my eye. Thanks for taking us along Jay.

[@moonglow630]

I saw her in 2017 in all her breathing glory. I never thought I’d need to go back. If I found myself back there, great, but it wasn’t a priority. Now that it’s been restored. To see her as she looked when she was first built. I gotta try & get myself back there!!!

[@johnemanuele8695]

I had the good fortune to visit Paris, October of 1978..I attended the Cathedral for All Saints Day...I was so moved standing in history..the grandeur of the architecture..especially the Rose window was amazing..to grasp that this structure was built over 800 years ago astounding

[@agyos]

Wow!! I’ve watched a lot of the documentaries, and news shows re the “new” Notre Dame, and it is so miraculous and wonderful. With all of that behind me, I felt a lovely depth of emotion watching your video. Thank you very much for sharing something that touched my heart. ✨🌻✨

[@bogieboog]

Thank yo SO much for making this video it brought me to tears. So wonderful to see this beautiful irreplaceable cathedral restored.

[@TheRooster04]

I was raised Catholic. I believe that the feeling you described when walking through Norte Dame should be what people feel when they walk through a religious building such as a church. It is a beautiful feeling that best captures the good that religion and belief can give to people. I haven’t been religious in about over a decade but it was still pretty heartbreaking when the Notre Dame burned and I’m glad it’s back just in time for Christmas!

[@JaySwanson]

I always think about breathing when I think about Notre Dame. I think it's why the smell is so important to me

[@ririshow]

Magnificent! What a perfect achievement! Thank you so much for this early report. God bless you.

[@kaliou6645]

When Jay rocks that suit, you know it's a Very special video blog 🧑🏼‍🦲🤵🏻‍♂️

[@rob7819]

Apart from the sneakers.Dress shoes with a suit always

[@almamater9566]

@@rob7819 being a shallow judgmental condescending arrogant idiot is not the flex you think it is buddy. Chill

[@brightgoldstar]

This cathedral has taken a form of human soul. I am an atheist and I feel a connection to the building. Some see God, others admire the architecture, others see Kuazimodo and Esmeralda. It is a legendary masterpiece.

[@JaySwanson]

I definitely think of it as a part of universal human heritage 🥂

[@sandrap6321]

I always think of the original builders & the many generations since...long gone but this cathedral still stands so they are not forgotten. We are seeing the cathedral the way they saw it when it was fresh & new...minus the patina. Well done, France!! 🇫🇷

[@3Duncan3]

I've never clicked so fast! And immediately emotional, for you, your city and community. I started watching your videos when you were going here often and fell in love with it through your eyes. I'm so glad to get to see it again through your eyes and description. Thank you.

[@oakpope]

Very glad you didn't lose your own Notre Dame !

[@yoshibeckham]

Seeing you getting emotional when you heard the bell made me tear up. 😭Merci mille fois, Jay, pour cette vidéo ❤

[@MrDiamondFlyer]

I visited this church when I was a teenager (I'm now 47). I remembered the place a as very dark, cold, filthy place. It was an unpleasant experience. The stones were so damaged by air pollution, even inside. How they managed to transform it into this in such a short timespan is unbelievable. Maybe it has lost a bit of it's soul in the process and I understand some purists may be a bit upset that it was not restored "as they knew it", but I see things differently. To me it has been restored to the grandeur of it's beginnings... they didn't replace the stones, the color was in the mass, it is the real colour they were hiding under the dirt and Paris has now a very welcoming Notre Dame. And I really don't care about churches in general, but I can appreciate that such large scale projects can still be done nowadays. Thanks for this video !

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I have been there once about 25 years ago and remember it vaguely. Seeing how it looks now was a revelation.

[@jemi7207]

Oh les couleurs sont fantastiques, ce bleu dans la chapelle est incroyable, il faut que j'y aille c'est à 20 mn de chez moi ! Merci pour cette visite. J'espère qu'ils ne feront pas payer ce lieu, cette oeuvre d'art appartient à tous. Merci

[@JaySwanson]

Ca reste toujours gratuit ! Et même il ne faut pas des billets - enfin ils sont uniquement pour réserver votre créneau. Je n'ai pas réalisé avant qu'on a tourné.

[@alainbrochet5610]

Merci Monsieur pour ces images, la reconstruction et la rénovation sont wouah ! Le travail des artisans et architectes une fierté. Ceci étant dit le clergé comme l'époque est minable. Ce lieu sacré ou le recueillement avec une ambiance feutrée qui devrait être organisée, exigée est souillé par le corner de marchands de colifichets qui en aucun cas ne doit être à l'intérieur de l'édifice. En outre les guignols ecclésiastiques multicolores de la cérémonie d'ouverture se sont opposés à une entrée payante, qui pourtant serait beaucoup plus sain que ce cirque au coeur du sacré !

[@charlesblack1086]

So happy this happened and so quickly. Thank you for sharing it with us. I was there before the fire.

[@Jeanetteinnes]

Thanks Jay .. my daughter and grandchildren live in Paris! I love seeing you in places that I love. ❤️

[@JaySwanson]

Happy I can share them!

[@brightgoldstar]

Incredible. Looks like it never burned and it was just a quick bad dream.

[@JaySwanson]

It felt like it, so strange

[@veidorje1681]

the good thing about that giant scafold is that it has allowed all the people doing the cleaning to reach each and every parts of the cathedral the dust and the smoke from millions of candles that were lit up through the ages covering all the stone and hiding colorful wall paintings that were rediscovered when cleaned up thanks for sharing : )

[@christopherromine4086]

Thank you for this great video! Loved it! As an American, love France & the French!!! 🎇🙏

[@dschultz6981]

Wow!! We visited in 2017 and again in 2019 at the very beginning of cleanup. I remember how awestruck I was, seeing the soaring cathedral and just taking in the history. Thanks for taking us along on your visit!! It's the same, yet so different.

[@JCF072344]

Thanks for taking us along via your beautiful photography. The recent history from the fire to the restoration brings tears to my eyes.

[@tiamarrow6366]

The fire, while it was heartbreaking to watch….it was a blessing in disguise because it actually revealed that due to how old Notre Dame was, and when it was built….despite its historical and cultural significance…it is still a very old church that was definitely showing signs of getting dusty and slightly decayed. The major renovation after the fire bright back to life so many vibrantly colored paintings that before the fire were old and dusty, and after the fire were covered in ash and soot. So even though it was hard to watch, it was actually needed to bring Notre Dane back to its former glory and make it even more beautiful.

[@MsMesem]

Arson

[@gardengeek3041]

Is my memory playing tricks? When I saw it in the 1960s, the interior was incredibly dark. Like many other ancient churches, dark as soot, I assumed, from centuries of burning candles and incense. So, its an eye-popping surprise to see the light creamy stone & simplicity of style. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevindelaney1951]

I, along with 2 friends, visited Notre Dame in 2009. It was a dark Gothic structure with 800 years of candle smoke on the walls & ceiling domes. This is… for all intents… a new Cathedral. Spectacular.

[@dawnblankenship3463]

Thank you for mentioning the wheel chair accessible feature. It is really important. Hope to return to Paris and us it.

[@travelingwithmikeandpam9074]

I do also love how the lighting is better & the stone is cleaned & paint very colorful!

[@kimmielovesparis1]

Very special! I’ve only been inside once…but it does look so much lighter, brighter, vibrant. I happened to be off work the day of the fire and watched the news live feed - it made me so incredibly sad and remember the feeling of what will happen next. Thank you for taking us along to see this beautiful sacred space.

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks for coming along!

[@RAD6150]

I watched your livestream of the fire in tears. I had lost my father the year before and lit a candle for him when I was there. Although it won't look or smell exactly the same, those who were there before will still have the memories. I don't think I will ever make it back to Paris. Thank you for the full circle.

[@ps4402]

Thank you so much for taking us with you. After annual treks to Paris for many years, we have not been able to get back for the past five years when we saw the devastation of ND. The apartment we stay at in the 5th is close enough to hear the bells. We will be back this spring and can't wait to, as you said, see the light pouring through the stained glass of Notre Dame. Merci.

[@BaldyBoyd]

Do you ever wonder if this is a similar feeling that one may have had in the 1860's after the restoration? Gratitude for the familiar, yet unsettled by the newness of it. She is born anew. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to revisiting once more.

[@margaretscott2793]

Thanks, Jay. This is a beautiful video. I hope one day we can visit Paris again and go to our 'spiritual home' again. What a miracle!

[@assaraan9407]

the thing about old buildings is they ar never truly lost untill people abandon the effort to re build them notredame suferd an survived a ingury has left a scar and it will never be quite the same as it was

[@T1hitsTheHighestNote]

I was a must for them to take this opportunity to take this old lady into the 21'th Century, with modern lighting, remove all the layers of dirt/pollution and make it feel brand new. She is a real Phoenix - reborn!

[@Dark-Horse-666]

As a Frenchman🇫🇷, I was deeply affected by the fire at Notre-Dame, near which I grew up. Contemplating the rebirth of this Cathedral warms my heart❤. This "renaissance" would not have been possible without the donors. Specifically without the Americans🇺🇸. Sincerely, M E R C I 🙏

[@isabelleaupetit7059]

Et beaucoup d'autres 😊

[@Dark-Horse-666]

@@isabelleaupetit7059 Sur les 50 000 donateurs étrangers... 45 000 sont américains (src - FranceTVInfo 25/11/2024).

[@AlyMolly]

Toutes les donations sont importantes mais les américains sont loins d’être les plus gros donateurs, je ne comprends pas qu’on se focalise sur eux. Ce n’est pas une critique, plus une observation.

[@Dark-Horse-666]

@@AlyMolly Sur les 50 000 donateurs étrangers, 45 000 sont américains.

[@Jennifer-h5f]

I’m glad someone finds something good to say about us Americans right now. I visited France for the first time December of 2022 but could not visit Norte Dame while in Paris. Hopefully within the next couple years. It looks gorgeous inside, just beautiful.

[@polyannamoonbeam]

My son goes to the cathedral where we live for the same reason. For many many years. He buys a rosary or a small item as a keepsake and carries it with him - regularily lost and replaced. He says it is the place he feels safest and loves the quietness there. Very devout but has also had those rock bottoms . Nice post. Glad you got to see it rise from the ashes again:)

[@deanthompson7437]

I was never a fan of the old dark, dreary cold Notre Dame. Hopefully I’ll be able to see this new colorful ND and am anxious to hear their organist.

[@carolynrains75]

Thank you for sharing with us. It is now than just Beautiful, it’s HOLY. The dedication was breathtaking. The tribute to the workers and Firefighters, touched me🥲

[@adrienmonnat375]

Nous avons versé tant de larmes, lorsque nous assistions à cet horrible cauchemar... Mais Notre-Dame est debout, toujours majestueuse, et le monde entier a pleuré pour Notre-Dame, et aujourd'hui s'émerveille. Merci à La Providence et merci à toutes les âmes protégées par Dieu.

[@marilynleslie472]

Wonderful! I love how beautiful it is. I remember how very dark it was inside. The first time I saw her was in 1977 as a student in Paris. I will never forget turning the corner from the Boule St. Michel and seeing her at dusk , lite up. So lovely. I passed her every day on my way to class.

[@yolondafowler3273]

When I heard the church was on fire I immediately went to youtube to find anything you posted. Luckily I found your livestream. Thank you for sharing this visit with us. I am so happy that Notre Dame will be open when we visit again. Thank you for sharing your life in Paris and beyond.

[@denisestone9119]

Thanks for sharing, Jay. I have been watching your channel for 2/3 years or so. I have enjoyed seeing all the things we didn't get to see and do and reliving the things we did and places we did see. I appreciate your sharing your journey. Our son took my husband & I to Brussels and France for my 60th birthday and our 40th wedding anniversary (about 9 years ago). My husband was tired and sat on ledge outside while our son and his girlfriend and I stood in line for 45 minutes. However, they were getting ready for and Easter service, so we only had two minutes inside and only got to walk along the back (and yes it was really dark for the middle of the day) but it was so captivating. And the bells! I recorded part of the bells. We occasionally with just sit and listen to the video. We watched brokenhearted when it was burning - couldn't even imagine what Parisians felt. So, glad that the government helped to get it restore so quickly. It was such a joy to hear them broadcast the bells for the first time since the fire.

[@nancyferrier8609]

What a transformation! When I visited it was so dark, seeming heavy with history. There happened to be a concert with a symphony orchestra going on with many operatic performances. It was some sort of anniversary of the church. I cried when I heard that it was burning. But this is a resurrection. Something to ponder. There is always the promise of rising from the ashes to resurrection and reincarnation.

[@dianegenx]

This is so very thoughtful of you, Jay, to share your beautiful experience with us! 💛

[@remipersonne1375]

Thank you very much, I was able to enjoy this cathedral as if I had rediscovered it with my own eyes.😇I think that for every visitor, the contrast is striking. Centuries of dirt have masked the original color of the stone as well as the paintings and ornaments.

[@anneyoung7731]

Yes!!! I was hoping you’d get into Notre Dame soon, and this is soooo soon! So happy! Thank you for sharing this😊

[@rob7819]

Great video Jay

[@BridgetteDuvall]

Enjoyed this video. I was able to go on Monday, no reservation. Long line for "sans reservation" but I decided to try it. Took 15 minutes! I thought it might be close to an hour. So if you think it might take forever just go. You'll probably be surprised. And it is sooooo worth it. So beautiful. Such an incredible change. Bravo to all who worked so hard on this.

[@MicahMann]

Thank you for taking us with you! I hate I missed it on my visit last year. I couldn’t even really get close. Definitely a reason to come back. ❤❤

[@annaburch3200]

It's so pretty! Old and new. So bright and heavenly. I can't wait to see it in person, some day. It was stunning when I visited before, but this will be a new experience and I'm excited.

[@LtKernelPanic]

I got to visit Notre Dame on 1 April 2019 and will be forever grateful that I had the chance to do so before the fire. Really hoping to visit Paris again sometime next year and see it again because everything I've seen so far looks absolutely stunning. Have to pick up your guide this time too. Also congrats on your French citizenship!

[@amyspeers8012]

You smile is everything! Smells matter to me as well, so I happy to hear that it is somewhat the same. I’ll let you know the date that my will be singing when I know. I cannot wait to see it in person and hear my son’s tenor voice ring out!

[@jemwxyz]

Jay! I am so happy that you got in to Notre Dame so quickly....I first saw you Notre Dame was burning...so happy that she is open once again 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@spartanrolv4553]

Thank you for showing us the re-opened Notre-Dame. I was in tears and dispair when it burned down and I was far away, abroad. You reinsured me. Thank you again for sharing 🙏🏻🥰 I used to live in Paris. As I’m a night owl I used to walk through the center East to West, South to North and vice versa in all ways possible and in any case you have to through Île de la Cité, either by Pont-Neuf and in this case the return would be via Pont-Louis-Philippe, Île St-Louis, Pont St-Louis, Notre-Dame from the Cœur, along to the Tower, cross the Parvis in diagonal to Petit-Pont cross and dive into the little streets of Quartier Latin. One never get bored walking in Paris. “Flâner”/strolling is the only way to tune with Paris. Take your time (and a good pair of shoes) and let Paris show you the way. They are so many secret paths to cross the city and discover the “villages” within Paris. Visit also the Cathedral of Amiens (about 120km north is Paris) that is the largest and highest (inside) of France. I left France (despite part of my ancestors can be trace in Paris and around up to the XVIth century) so I let the rush pass and I will certainly make a trip to the Notre-Dame in 2025, trying to avoid the most crowded periods.

[@FrenchGlobetrotter]

Lovely seeing all those beautiful church details ! The last time I visited was 8 years ago, can't wait to visit Notre Dame now!

[@vgalinerutkowski]

Dire que je suis français et j'ai jamais mis les pieds ! Toi, tu peux faire un avant/après, la class.

[@TheAuntMar-USA]

Thank you for creating this beautiful video and sharing your thoughts during your first visit to Notre Dame.

[@heyjoemedia]

We watched your livestream, Jay, when it burned in 2019. It was a month before our first trip to Paris and Europe, and it felt like a bad omen. Of course, the trip was amazing. We returned to Europe in October and came home just a week ago, but before Notre Dame re-opened. This video is a full-circle moment for us, as well as for you. So happy you made it back. Hopefully, we'll see it for ourselves one of these days.

[@cindygreif3077]

What a happy surprise you! Great video!

[@curlygrayinluxury]

Can not waaaaaite to come back to see this church :)

[@jojo_inthemitten36]

Thanks for sharing this! She is SO BRIGHT! So nice that you put on a jacket and tie for your reunion with Our Lady. ❤

[@FRanceSource]

So awesome Jay. Congrats. Glad some of the smell remains and really loved seeing you smile again!!!

[@gullsrus]

Thank you for posting this so people like myself in the UK can see the beautiful building. So can't wait for our return to check this beautiful building out. x

[@JaySwanson]

Happy we have access again!

[@markcassle3828]

Merci beaucoup, Jay.

[@AndyMcCavish]

I was working in Paris in the 8th when it burned, didn't know a thing about it till I got back to the hotel and turned the TV on. So glad to see it back open.

[@RobertABradley]

Thank you, Jay. I’ve been almost afraid to click on new Notre Dame videos in spite of all the positive comments on the restoration so far, because I too have very abbreviated version of your connection, and was fearful they might have “overdone” the restoration. I trusted you and you didn’t disappoint - a touching and respectful re-intro. I hope my advancing years may still allow me there in person one day.

[@susandhersey]

Thank you for sharing your visit! I've been looking forward this video =)

[@AlisonMurray-c4f]

Wow - visiting Notre Dame again must have been a bit like a blind date - juggling so many emotions 💕

[@johnemanuele8695]

One doesn't have to be religious to appreciate the cathedrals history and craftsmanship.