Monuments are the emotional backbone of France. That accounts for the despair over a blaze that killed no one , yet seared the collective soul. It is the power Notre Dame had, and still has, despite the charred scars on its Gothic walls.
It is not only the unique beauty of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the palaces of Versailles or Mont Saint-Michel proudly facing the sea that make monuments the epitome of France, it is also the sense of nationhood they represent.
Across the nation, the pain was equally felt, especially because just about every region has a similar treasure to cherish. For all, it was clear the monument transcended its religious meaning and instead was a symbol of European civilization.
(With inputs from AP)
A massive fire consumed the Notre-Dame Cathedral on April 15, 2019 gutting the roof of the Paris landmark and stunning France and the world. Firefighters managed to save the shell of the stone structure and its two main bell towers from collapse.
Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke filled the air above the Cathedral that marks the center of Paris.
The French president has said he would seek help from the “greatest talents” in the world to rebuild Notre Dame, and many governments said they were considering contributions to what would be a significant architectural undertaking.
The iconic cathedral has been enmeshed in Paris’s history since construction began at the end of the 12th century—historians generally ascribe the date 1163—and lasted more than two centuries to 1345.
The cathedral is also a part of culture and literature, being the centrepiece of Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre-Dame. This file photo shows the pipe organ of the cathedral, one of the most famous in the World.
Experts say the combination of a structure that’s more than 850 years old, built with heavy timber and soaring open spaces, and lack of sophisticated fire-protection systems led to the quick spread of flames. In this photo taken on August 20, 2017 participants stand inside the cathedral ahead of a mass dedicated to the victims of the terror attacks and natural disasters across the world.
Despite the complicated structure, the two iconic 69-meter bell towers remained intact and swarmed with building specialists and architects at dawn, looking tiny from the ground as they conducted analysis. The cathedral’s spire and roof are gone, however.
The nearly 900-year-old structure has endured the French Revolution, the Nazi occupation and countless bouts of unrest before and since. The church is home to relics, stained glass and other works of art of incalculable value, and is a leading tourist spot.
