NOTE: I purchased Notre Dame de Paris (21061) myself, and this review is not sponsored in any way. I strive to always provide my honest opinion on LEGO® products. If you are curious about how I generate scores in this review, I invite you to read about the True North Bricks rating system.

INTRODUCTION

Bonjour tout le monde! It’s been a spell since I sat down at the comp to record some LEGO®️ thoughts. So here I am to talk about the (current) latest set in the Architecture line, Notre-Dame de Paris (21061). When it comes to famous religious buildings, Notre-Dame is right up there with the best of them. It is the church when most people think French Gothic. A true masterpiece that, shockingly, nearly disappeared.

No doubt, many of you are familiar with the 2019 fire that caused significant damage. Thankfully she survived and is set to re-open to the public on December 8, 2024. After 5 years of non-stop work, the results are astounding. The restoration is thanks to thousands of skilled labourers, artists and artisans. I think this set is as much an homage to them as to the building itself. So pull up a pew and let’s take a closer look.

SET SPECIFICS

QUICK REVIEW

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FULL REVIEW

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Value Score Breakdown:

Notre-Dame de Paris is a substantial set parts wise. With over 4300 pieces it is the largest Architecture set ever released. With that hefty piece count comes a heftier price tag of $299.99 CAD. Happily though, we still get an amazing cost-per-brick of only $0.068. If you’re keeping score, that’s an easy 100% score. Sets with many small parts (micro-scale) often fare better in this category.

I love a set that takes a while to build. Notre-Dame took me well over 9 hours (588 mins) to complete. It should come as no surprise given all those parts. And with many a small piece, it usually takes longer overall. At that length of time and MSRP, we get a cost-per-min of $0.51. Yet again, a perfect score. So for all you parts and build-time aficionados, this is the set for you. The value score is a perfect 100%.

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Build Score Breakdown:

Notre-Dame de Paris comes packaged in your standard box with traditional graphics. Like all 18+ sets, it’s a hero shot on a black background with a greebling border. Inside you will find 34 numbered bags and a 290 page instruction book. As with all proper Architecture sets, you will not find any stickers. The box art looks amazing and really shows what an ‘adult’ set this is.

Follow in History’s Footsteps

Building Notre-Dame is a unique experience. The designers have made a fun decision with the instructions. Building the model takes you on the chronological journey of the actual cathedral construction. You will start with the laying of the first stone in 1163 and proceed forward in time. Each section highlights the major milestones of each phase of construction.

I found this such a great idea to shake up the building experience. The snippets of history peppered through the booklet are fantastic as well. Like all the Architecture sets, you learn something in the process. It would be easy to just put down two big plates and get to it. But this is a much better approach.

NPU & Detailing

Notre-Dame de Paris is absolutely packed with amazing micro-scale detailing. Architectural elements are rendered wonderfully. The small window arch pieces are put to excellent use here (not surprisingly). They first appeared in the massive Hogwarts Castle (71043) but have had not much presence in subsequent Architecture sets. The major exception being the huge Colosseum (10276), but technically that’s a LEGO®️ icons set.

Flying buttresses, windows, gargoyles, piers, vaults and all the iconic elements of Gothic Architecture are there. Some detail is just not possible even at this larger scale, but you don’t have to look too hard to see much is still visible. The best use of NPU has to be the recoloured star wands. Here they serve as columns on the towers. They look great. You also get 40 of them.

Even with all these clever techniques, there are actually no new elements or molds. You will find a number of parts in new colours and prints however. The most unique pieces are the printed transparent dishes representing the iconic rose windows. So all you parts junkies will find quite a lot to use in future projects – especially in tan. There is a lot of tan, but that can’t be helped.

A Great Experience

I loved this build. It’s easily one of the best Architecture sets to date. And honestly, one of the best sets period. The details are wonderful. It’s paying lovely respect to a famous and beloved structure. My only and tiniest of critiques is the repetitive nature of the build. You build many, many small sub-assemblies. And being symmetrical, it’s double the ‘fun’. But it’s a symmetrical structure and no way around it. Some minor gaps and awkward connections are there as well. Overall though, it’s an absolute masterpiece. My final build score is 96%.

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Entertainment Score Breakdown:

Notre-Dame de Paris is about as great a display piece as you can hope for. Honestly, few Architecture sets fail in this regard. It sits beautifully on the shelf. The side profile provides a lot of detail with all them flying buttresses (the correct number of btw), spires and windows. A few trees along the side look great, breaking up the beige. Like the real building, the front facade is ‘flat’ but you ideally wouldn’t display it like that.

Accuracy is a big draw here. Even the interior (small as it is) is very true to the source. The tile flooring is done very nicely around the many columns and arches. You can see into the nave from the front doors – it looks superb. And the roof lifts away to get an even better view at the interior. Plenty more details are revealed as you build. I’d hate to spoil them all though, so make sure to pick this one up. My final entertainment score is 90%.

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Notre-Dame de Paris is iconic. I’ve visited the cathedral twice in my travels and both times were special experiences. My second visit was with my now husband and we climbed the bell towers for that extra special view and experience. Seeing the fires start 5 years ago was truly shocking. But thankfully the building has been saved and is ready for a new chapter.

Does this signal the start of a new line of religious buildings? The LEGO®️ Group has long said it would never happen. And well, here we are. I hope we see many more sets just like this one, showcasing any and all faiths. Time will tell of course. But what do you think of this set? Are you keen on more famous places such as this? Please leave a comment below and on our social pages. Thanks as always for reading, and until next time, keep on brickin’. 🧱

– Frank

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