As Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral gears up to reopen in December, the centre of the city is on the verge of an eco-revival, with plans to bring nature to the area around the monument and many of the French capital's most famous historical attractions.
To accompany the restoration of Notre-Dame's spire and medieval charm, Paris City Hall announced plans on Tuesday to revamp its surroundings into a serene, green oasis.
Posting on X, Paris City Hall announced: "Development of the area around Notre-Dame will begin in autumn 2025. A major step that will accompany the reopening of the cathedral".
The €50 million project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that will reshape Paris, from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues.
The reopening of Notre-Dame on 8 December promises to be an historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel Macron’s vow made after the 2019 devastating fire for a five-year timeline.
While the cathedral’s spire and oak-framed roof have been restored to their pre-fire glory, Paris City Hall's plans for the area around Notre Dame are bringing something new.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other officials Tuesday presented a project that will create 1,800 square metres of green space with 160 new trees.
The redesign includes transforming the underground parking area into a visitor space with services and amenities.
The Seine’s adjacent quays will also be turned into a new promenade along the river.
The project will unfold in two phases and is set to be completed by 2030.
City of Light 'goes green'
Among the key elements of Paris' broader green transformation is the revitalisation of spaces like the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital's landmarks.
At the heart of Paris, the Place de la Concorde – home to the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk – will also undergo a significant overhaul between 2026 and 2027.
The nearby Louvre Museum – the world’s most visited – will undergo its own transformation under the “Louvre 2030” project.
While €30 million will be invested in the Champs-Elysées, beginning with the renovation of its sidewalks, tree bases, and gardens that started in preparation for the Olympics.
Post-Olympic politics
However, not everyone agrees on Paris’s post-Olympics makeover.
Hidalgo and Culture Minister Rachida Dati are engaged in a battle over the future of the Eiffel Tower, with Hidalgo proposing to keep the Olympic rings beyond the Games, which ended in August.
She has argued that the rings symbolise the “festive spirit” of the successful Paris Olympics and wants them to remain at least until the next Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Critics, however, say Hidalgo is using the Eiffel Tower as a political billboard to boost her image before the 2026 mayoral election, in which she is expected to face off against Dati.
Dati has opposed the plan, arguing that the tower is a protected heritage site and can't be altered without proper consultation.
She has gone further, launching an ultimatum to push for the Eiffel Tower to be classified as a full historical monument – something Hidalgo has resisted.
This would add extra layers of bureaucratic protection and control, potentially thwarting Hidalgo’s plans.
