Paris’ Notre-Dame Fire in Pics and Facts – Here’s Why Cathedral Is So Important for French Culture and History
Historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris went up in a catastrophic fire.
The fire burned for several hours, destroying the 850-year-old cathedral’s iconic spire.
Firefighters in Paris say there is a fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral. https://t.co/HHUXgZE4x1
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) April 15, 2019
Paris fire official says the main structure of the cathedral has been saved and preserved. For now, though, firefighters are still on the scene.
President Emmanuel Macron lamented the destruction of an awe-inspiring building that embodied the heart of Paris for more than 800 years. But he pledged to rebuild, starting with the launch of an international fundraising campaign.
“Notre Dame is our history, it’s our literature, it’s our imagery. It’s the place where we live our greatest moments, from wars to pandemics to liberations,” he said.
Source: FPA
The Paris prosecutor opened an investigation however the cause of the devastating fire is still unknown.
Source: FPA
The site was undergoing renovations and was surrounded by scaffolding.
People reacted with audible gasps, but most of them were just shocked silently.
#NotreDameCathedral: 'Below me there are lots of people gathered singing Ave Maria, singing catholic hymns, trying to bring some kind of unity'@markowenf24 reporting live from the scene pic.twitter.com/ebnPzUM0uV
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 15, 2019
“It’s awful to see such a symbol disappearing in front of you. It’s been there for so many years and in a few minutes, half of it disappeared … crazy,” Thibaud Binétruy, who lives in Paris, said.
“Paris without Notre Dame, madness.”
The view from St Michele. As night falls, a group of people are singing while everyone else is taking photos and watch in shock. All feels eerie. #NotreDame #notredamedeparis pic.twitter.com/f5HAwGkmWN
— Andrei Popoviciu (@AndreiPopoviciu) April 15, 2019
Why the cathedral is so important?
- Notre Dame’s foundation stone was laid in 1163 by Pope Alexander III, and the cathedral was completed in the 13th century.
- Located in Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the city, the cathedral is one of Paris’ most popular attractions, drawing an estimated 13 million visitors a year.
- Even as it fell into disrepair over the centuries, it was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as emperor in 1804.
- The central spire was built in the 19th century amid a broad restoration effort, partly buoyed by the success of “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” in 1831.
- One of the cathedral’s most precious treasures — a relic of the crown of thorns believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ at the time of his crucifixion.
- In addition to the Crown of Thorns, the cathedral also houses the grand organ, one of the world’s most famous musical instruments, and numerous artworks.
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