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Paris was burning quite literally on Monday after the attic of Notre-Dame cathedral caught on fire. Billowing Smoke and tall blazes were seen from around the city as citizens watched the famous landmark in horror. The fire is said to have spread from the attic, causing the cathedral’s spire, one of Paris’s most iconic architectural features, to collapse. A few hours later the entire roof had been turned to ash. Onlookers stood near the cathedral weeping.
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On Monday the attic of Notre Dame Cathedral lit up in flames and the entire world watched in horror – still there are messages of hope
Image credits: AP Images : APTOPIX France Notre Dame Fire
“Notre-Dame is aflame,” tweeted French President Emmanuel Macron. “Great emotion for the whole nation. Our thoughts go out to all Catholics and to the French people. Like all of my fellow citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn tonight.” As thoughts and prayers poured out to the people of Paris, there were also many messages of hope rising from the ashes.
Image credits: AP Images : Sipa France
The cause of the fire is still unknown but the Paris prosecutor has opened up an investigation. While the cathedral’s spire was turned to ash many relics and features of the tower were saved, such as the bell towers and Crown of Thorns. The cathedral was under a $12.4-million renovation at the time and surrounded by scaffolding. It took four hundred firefighters and 18 fire hoses to contain the blazes. “The fire affected two-thirds of the roof, which has collapsed, as well as the spire,” said Paris fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet
Image credits: AP Images : APTOPIX France Notre Dame Fire
The French president has continued to send positive messages to his citizens throughout the disaster and has promised that the iconic cathedral will rise again. “Although the battle is not yet totally won,” President Macron vowed to the people, “we will rebuild Notre-Dame together.”
Notre Dame was completed in 1345 and has survived wars and invasions – historians point out this will not be the first rebuild
And while it’s ok to mourn the damages from the fire – there are several reasons to be hopeful about its future
Image credits: AP Images : APTOPIX France Notre Dame Fire
The main structure of the building was saved
Image credits: Shradha_05
The French firefighting chief told reporters that the main structure of the cathedral had been saved, “We can consider that the two towers of the north belfry Notre-Dame have been saved,” Paris fire commander Jean-Claude Gallet, told reporters late on Monday. “The structure of Our Lady is saved as a whole.”
Image credits: LaCatholicState
The scaffolding presented a unique issue during the fire, “One sensitive point is the central scaffolding, which is going to require several hours before it can be cooled down completely,” said Gallet, “There is still a risk that this scaffolding could partially collapse but we can consider that the structure of Notre-Dame is saved and preserved in its entirety.”
Image credits: Catholic Arena
Tuesday morning firefighters inspected the cathedral interior further to find the structure mostly intact. Gabriel Plus, a spokesman for the Paris fire services, told journalists: “Throughout the night our work consisted of keeping an eye on the residue so the fire didn’t reignite and overseeing the structure of the building to make sure it didn’t collapse. We had to ensure the towers were not touched and this is the case.” Plus went on to add, “We are satisfied and grateful that in risking their lives [firefighters] safeguarded the structure of the two belfries, the towers – and the works of art. Now I can confirm the fire is completely out.”
Image credits: Catholic Arena
They are 100 percent going to rebuild it
Image credits: ppdurastanti
President Macron has promised his citizens that they will rebuild and multiple pledges have already been made by multiple wealthy donors. The French president said a “national undertaking” would be launched, that went, “far beyond our borders, we will appeal to the greatest talents… who will contribute, and we will rebuild.”
The north rose window, one its iconic features, survived
Image credits: Lililiyabbayo_o
The gorgeous stained-glass trio of rose windows in Notre Dame date back to the 13th century. They were among the many artifacts that were saved during the fire. According to the Archbishop of Paris, all three remained intact. The panes on the rose glass depict religious stories from both the old and new testiment.
Image credits: Wikipedia/ Julie Anne Workman
Image credits: JANUSZCZAK
Image credits: JamesAALongman
The famous crucifix survived the blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral
Image credits: ShirleyXYPan
Image credits: Catholic Arena
Standing amongst the rubble a cross was left standing, unharmed from the blazes. For religious and some non-religious people, the message of hope was not lost.
Image credits: AP
The damage inside Notre Dame was limited and there was no fire in the nave at all. Even the candles didn’t melt
Image credits: mikaelus
Salma Hayek’s billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault pledged 100 million euros to help rebuild Notre-Dame
Image credits: Catholic Arena
French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, chief executive of the Kering group, which owns the Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga fashion houses, pledged more than $113 million dollars towards the cathedral reconstruction. “Faced with such a tragedy, everyone wishes to give life back as soon as possible to this jewel of our heritage,” said Pinault.
Billionaire businessman Bernard Arnault – the richest person in Europe – and his LVMH luxury goods group, which includes Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Givenchy, are donating 200 million euros to help restore the cathedral
Image credits: Catholic Arena
Bernard Arnault, another french magnate joins Pinault in pledging towards the reconstruction efforts. “The Arnault family and the LVMH Group, in solidarity with this national tragedy, are committed to assist with the reconstruction of this extraordinary cathedral, symbol of France, its heritage and its unity,” said the family in a statement. Since these initial pledges, more wealthy donors and companies have donated to the cause, including Total (TOT), a French oil and gas company, which has pledged €100 million, Henry Kravis, co-founder of private equity group KKR, who has pledged $10 million, and Tech and consulting firm Capgemini which has promised €1 million.
People have sent word’s of encouragement from all around the world
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Image credits: MazzucatoM
Image credits: Donald Tusk
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What do you think ?
ChooDuck 5 years ago
I heard they interrogated Quasimodo... He didn't say much... However he did say he had a hunch...
DancingToMyself 5 years ago
Wow, that fire was burning up for full 10 hours, so I'm very happy and grateful that "The Lady" hasn't been damaged so severely. :)
diane a 5 years ago (edited)
Cannot imagine how the French Nation must have felt, watching that blaze and not knowing if there would be anything much left of the beautiful building and its treasures. It was heart rending to see from the UK. We have cathedrals older here, but not as symbolic. Even London's St Paul's and Westminster are not as historic, being more modern main construction. The nearest I feel, would be for us to see Canterbury Cathedral fully alight and fear it would all be destroyed. So glad Notre Dame was saved structurally intact to rise again.
Load More Replies...
Alexandru Bucur 5 years ago
We are a family of architects and, as the fire was going on, we were chatting in a facebook group (we live in different countries) and we realised this looked worse than it was, because fire ALWAYS goes up (warm air is, after all, lighter than cold air) and, with the exception of the debris from the fallen spire taking out parts of the vault over the transept, the rest of the church should be fine. Also, the spire was not original - it was built by French architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 1840s to replace the original spire and roof which had been destroyed during the French Revolution, and because of that, we have detailed blueprints. Interestingly, Viollet's intervention has been controversial from the get-go, because his idea of "restoration" was to add a whole bunch of stuff, including a saint statue in his likeness, so now we can ask ourselves wherever we should rebuild Notre Dame to it-s pre-fire appearance or to her pre-Viollet look...
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
I was going to ask about that. Many people consider the 19th century spire to be a bit of a wart. It always struck me as a bit odd. I’m sure it was fashionable at the time, but I’d like to see it restored to the original. This is one of the most photographed buildings on the planet, and the fact that the blueprints live on in archives is wonderful. The window can be replaced and made to look identical to the original.
Load More Replies...
Carol Emory 5 years ago
Yay!!! I'm so happy it survived!! And I saw a post this morning that said a French Billionaire is donating 100 million Euro's to the rebuilding efforts.
DancingToMyself 5 years ago
I saw it! It's really cool that people who are that rich, really care about the community and what's going on with it. :)
Load More Replies...
FortnitePlayerGirl 5 years ago
Absolutely shocking and distressing how much damage was caused to that iconic cathedral. I hope that this cathedral is rebuilt good as new, and people heal from having to see such a terrible sight. It's truly a miracle how some of it is still standing.
Petra Schaap 5 years ago
It was damaged, but its far from a pile of ashes. Far more than "just the four walls are still standing" Lots of important things are still there. They will rebuild it. Like they rebuild all those other great cathedrals in the past that were partly destroyed by fires or wars or other disasters, and that we can still visit, use and admire today. Most of all the spirit of this church is still there. it will always be a symbol, and more that just a building, no matter in what shape.
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
I’d be interested to know how many times the cathedral has caught fire. I’m guessing this is far from the first time.
Kerolos Saleib 5 years ago
Nothing against Notre Dame, it's not the first fire, but it's 800 years old... Compared to other historic monuments that had bigger and more massive impact on vmcivilization where these millionaires don't give a c**p too... Or let alone donate to the other poor black churches in the US that were recently set on fire or even historic cathedrals in Egypt bombed. Where people died. This bothers me...
amyamy 5 years ago
But Notre Dame is one of the most important buildings in Europe! No other church would cause these emotions! And sorry... US buildings are not old, just recently built, do not have a history that ancient! And the ancient buildings in Egypt... Yes sad when they are destroyed - but also they are not the heart, the center, the thousands years of memory in Europe!
Load More Replies...
I Am Lulu Prime 5 years ago
What happened is really awful but I'm glad that most of the historical things were saved. When travelling historical places and reading about their histories sometimes it writes "... part was damaged in a fire in the ..th century" which always makes me more curious about the circumstances back then. Within half a century 15th April 2019 is going to be on those historical events' sheets, and we'll be the witnesses of this sad event. The future generations might end up being curious about the circumstanstances and living conditions of today.
Matt Jones Matt J 5 years ago
Its tragic. But the most sickening part of it is, the criminally rich can raise 1 billion euros in 24hrs for a church, yet are unprepared to contribute to problems far worse in the world many compounded by their greed. A billion euros could buy a sizeable amount of rainforest or help clean the oceans. Maybe they think they can buy their way into heaven. But same old story whilst the world burns the church and ruling elite build monuments to themselves.
Matt Jones Matt J 5 years ago
If you asked people to raise a billion euros in 24hrs to save a species or stop tipping point of climate change, or stop slavery you would have no luck at all. It just shows how warped peoples values are.
Load More Replies...
Blake Leonard 5 years ago
I hope the people of Paris, no matter how many more wires are faulty or cigarettes left out, can still worship in peace. Prayers from London.
Elizabeth 5 years ago
I'm looking forward to what new building methods and fire prevention technology they install into the rebuild. It's sad that most of the wood from the 12th century burnt but it's not as bad as it seemed yesterday. I've heard that roof "always leaked", now that may not be a problem.
Piet Zwanenburg 5 years ago
We were there last weekend, did not went inside, as we visited in september also, and it was crowded as always. Such a lovely and beautiful place.Could not look yesterday evening without wet eyes.....
✎Kinda_Scarlett 5 years ago
I'm so glad that they are rebuilding it :) The church is beautiful, and I'd hate for them to just scrap it
Ola Polowczyk 5 years ago
I watched the news yesterday until 1 AM. I watched it in horror and tears. I really thought the cathedral would collapse. I am so relieved it didn't! It will be rebuilt.
Bill Falls 5 years ago
At one time they were going to tear down Notre Dame . Read the Hunch Back of Notre Dame.
Bill Falls 5 years ago
Let's not forget at one point the French were going to tear down the Cathedral. Read the Hunch Back of Notre Dame
christie lowe 5 years ago
I am so happy to see that the cathedral was not gutted. It made me sick to watch the coverage of it burning yesterday.
The Dutches 5 years ago
The Lady brings the world together. From the Vatican to Poetin (and the Dutch and other countries), many have offered to send their restauration specialists to share their craftsmanship and knowledge in order to make it perfect. Thank you, Lady!!
ChooDuck 5 years ago
I heard they interrogated Quasimodo... He didn't say much... However he did say he had a hunch...
DancingToMyself 5 years ago
Wow, that fire was burning up for full 10 hours, so I'm very happy and grateful that "The Lady" hasn't been damaged so severely. :)
diane a 5 years ago (edited)
Cannot imagine how the French Nation must have felt, watching that blaze and not knowing if there would be anything much left of the beautiful building and its treasures. It was heart rending to see from the UK. We have cathedrals older here, but not as symbolic. Even London's St Paul's and Westminster are not as historic, being more modern main construction. The nearest I feel, would be for us to see Canterbury Cathedral fully alight and fear it would all be destroyed. So glad Notre Dame was saved structurally intact to rise again.
Load More Replies... Alexandru Bucur 5 years ago
We are a family of architects and, as the fire was going on, we were chatting in a facebook group (we live in different countries) and we realised this looked worse than it was, because fire ALWAYS goes up (warm air is, after all, lighter than cold air) and, with the exception of the debris from the fallen spire taking out parts of the vault over the transept, the rest of the church should be fine. Also, the spire was not original - it was built by French architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 1840s to replace the original spire and roof which had been destroyed during the French Revolution, and because of that, we have detailed blueprints. Interestingly, Viollet's intervention has been controversial from the get-go, because his idea of "restoration" was to add a whole bunch of stuff, including a saint statue in his likeness, so now we can ask ourselves wherever we should rebuild Notre Dame to it-s pre-fire appearance or to her pre-Viollet look...
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
I was going to ask about that. Many people consider the 19th century spire to be a bit of a wart. It always struck me as a bit odd. I’m sure it was fashionable at the time, but I’d like to see it restored to the original. This is one of the most photographed buildings on the planet, and the fact that the blueprints live on in archives is wonderful. The window can be replaced and made to look identical to the original.
Load More Replies... Carol Emory 5 years ago
Yay!!! I'm so happy it survived!! And I saw a post this morning that said a French Billionaire is donating 100 million Euro's to the rebuilding efforts.
DancingToMyself 5 years ago
I saw it! It's really cool that people who are that rich, really care about the community and what's going on with it. :)
Load More Replies... FortnitePlayerGirl 5 years ago
Absolutely shocking and distressing how much damage was caused to that iconic cathedral. I hope that this cathedral is rebuilt good as new, and people heal from having to see such a terrible sight. It's truly a miracle how some of it is still standing.
Petra Schaap 5 years ago
It was damaged, but its far from a pile of ashes. Far more than "just the four walls are still standing" Lots of important things are still there. They will rebuild it. Like they rebuild all those other great cathedrals in the past that were partly destroyed by fires or wars or other disasters, and that we can still visit, use and admire today. Most of all the spirit of this church is still there. it will always be a symbol, and more that just a building, no matter in what shape.
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
I’d be interested to know how many times the cathedral has caught fire. I’m guessing this is far from the first time.
Kerolos Saleib 5 years ago
Nothing against Notre Dame, it's not the first fire, but it's 800 years old... Compared to other historic monuments that had bigger and more massive impact on vmcivilization where these millionaires don't give a c**p too... Or let alone donate to the other poor black churches in the US that were recently set on fire or even historic cathedrals in Egypt bombed. Where people died. This bothers me...
amyamy 5 years ago
But Notre Dame is one of the most important buildings in Europe! No other church would cause these emotions! And sorry... US buildings are not old, just recently built, do not have a history that ancient! And the ancient buildings in Egypt... Yes sad when they are destroyed - but also they are not the heart, the center, the thousands years of memory in Europe!
Load More Replies... I Am Lulu Prime 5 years ago
What happened is really awful but I'm glad that most of the historical things were saved. When travelling historical places and reading about their histories sometimes it writes "... part was damaged in a fire in the ..th century" which always makes me more curious about the circumstances back then. Within half a century 15th April 2019 is going to be on those historical events' sheets, and we'll be the witnesses of this sad event. The future generations might end up being curious about the circumstanstances and living conditions of today.
Matt Jones Matt J 5 years ago
Its tragic. But the most sickening part of it is, the criminally rich can raise 1 billion euros in 24hrs for a church, yet are unprepared to contribute to problems far worse in the world many compounded by their greed. A billion euros could buy a sizeable amount of rainforest or help clean the oceans. Maybe they think they can buy their way into heaven. But same old story whilst the world burns the church and ruling elite build monuments to themselves.
Matt Jones Matt J 5 years ago
If you asked people to raise a billion euros in 24hrs to save a species or stop tipping point of climate change, or stop slavery you would have no luck at all. It just shows how warped peoples values are.
Load More Replies... Blake Leonard 5 years ago
I hope the people of Paris, no matter how many more wires are faulty or cigarettes left out, can still worship in peace. Prayers from London.
Elizabeth 5 years ago
I'm looking forward to what new building methods and fire prevention technology they install into the rebuild. It's sad that most of the wood from the 12th century burnt but it's not as bad as it seemed yesterday. I've heard that roof "always leaked", now that may not be a problem.
Piet Zwanenburg 5 years ago
We were there last weekend, did not went inside, as we visited in september also, and it was crowded as always. Such a lovely and beautiful place.Could not look yesterday evening without wet eyes.....
✎Kinda_Scarlett 5 years ago
I'm so glad that they are rebuilding it :) The church is beautiful, and I'd hate for them to just scrap it
Ola Polowczyk 5 years ago
I watched the news yesterday until 1 AM. I watched it in horror and tears. I really thought the cathedral would collapse. I am so relieved it didn't! It will be rebuilt.
Bill Falls 5 years ago
At one time they were going to tear down Notre Dame . Read the Hunch Back of Notre Dame.
Bill Falls 5 years ago
Let's not forget at one point the French were going to tear down the Cathedral. Read the Hunch Back of Notre Dame
christie lowe 5 years ago
I am so happy to see that the cathedral was not gutted. It made me sick to watch the coverage of it burning yesterday.
The Dutches 5 years ago
The Lady brings the world together. From the Vatican to Poetin (and the Dutch and other countries), many have offered to send their restauration specialists to share their craftsmanship and knowledge in order to make it perfect. Thank you, Lady!!
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