Secrets From Centuries of Paris History Are Emerging From Archaeological Digs After the Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire

Jean-Baptiste Gurliat / City of Paris Archaeologists are conducting excavations near Notre-Dame Cathedral, offering a rare glimpse into centuries of French history.

The famed cathedral, located in the heart of Paris, reopened in late 2024 after suffering severe damage in a 2019 fire. Now, officials want to add 160 new trees to the cathedral’s surroundings and transform the underground parking lot into a visitor center, among other updates.

But, before they can do so, archaeologists must first investigate and protect the remnants of the city’s past hidden in the ground below. The excavations started in January and are expected to take around eight months to complete, according to an update from the city’s archaeology department.