Notre Dame

[Serinde]

I can’t bear to watch and can’t not do so in a kind of death watch for a building that’s informed my studies. 850 years old. As a medievalist, this breaks my heart. Heaven only knows how the French and especially the citizens of Paris feel. Devastated.

[karen4bells]

So sad to see this and especially during Holy week. What a loss

[rcperryls]

I was hoping that there would be 100's of new posts so I could keep myself away from watching the fire. It is so tragic there are not words. I did hear that at least 19 of the statues and sculptures had been removed earlier for cleaning/maintenance/repair and that they are actively trying to save other valuable art work. Praying that no one is injured in the process.

Carole

[poppy]

Devastating!

Also, we think of the firefighters fighting the flames in danger from collapsing timber.

[Serinde]

Firefighters are now saying that they can’t guarantee being able to save the cathedral. Nave and transept roofs are gone as well as the steeple. They are now battling to save the towers of the west front. Apparently the next 1.5 hours are crucial.

[poppy]

After 850 years...
Thank you for the update, Serinde.

[Squirrel]

I heard it on the radio earlier this morning and just felt so sick with such horrible news. I pray all who are fighting the fires stay safe.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the peoples of the world who are so badly affected by this news.

I pray that the renovations currently being carried out are not the cause of the fire. if they are those poor workmen will be devastated.

[richardandtracy]

Well, it appears much of the stonework is still standing, and the towers were saved.

Catastrophic is the best it could be called, but not quite the worst possible.

It is such a terrible shame.
My mediaeval historian daughter was watching the news in a state of shock.

Richard.

[wendywombat]

I've been inside as well as stood in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral on two occasions when visiting Paris. It's Huge and can only really be appreciated when seen 'live'! It dominates the City and can be seen from many kilometres away. As you drive around the Perifique (ring road) those twin Bell Towers can be seen easily. The fire, therefore, will also have to have been visible all over the City!

Brave firemen have worked hard all night to contain the fire and will be working hard to keep any further fires damped down for many days yet. They are the people we should be thinking about now, putting their lives and health at risk to save this ancient building.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Wendy, I've only been to Paris once but I do remember how overwhelming a building it is - a landmark in so many ways.

Brave firemen have worked hard all night to contain the fire and will be working hard to keep any further fires damped down for many days yet. They are the people we should be thinking about now, putting their lives and health at risk to save this ancient building.

Hear hear.

And I had this slightly silly but still serious thought - imagine that we could tell the original artisans that their work to the glory of God would stand for well over 8 centuries... wouldn't that have amazed and astonished them? Can any of us hope to leave such a legacy?

[rcperryls]

I read that one fireman had been severely injured, but not sure if this is a fact or not. What is truly miraculous is that a fire this monstrous did not take any lives and that candles lit yesterday were still lit this morning and that they were able to save as much as they did.

Carole

[mauveme]

Such a tragedy. I visited there in the mid 80’s. It was so amazing to see. Something so old and incredibly beautiful. It was the highlight of my trip to Paris. ( even if I did fall down on those darn. Cobblestones) .I hope something is salvageable. May take decades before it’s done.

[Serinde]

We have much to be thankful for, it seems. Robust 12th- and 13th-century stone vaulting held the burning "forest" up and away from the lower sections of the cathedral (for the most part; the steeple made a mess, of course, and there are places where newer concrete gave way), the same stone arches in the transepts and at the west end protected the rose windows like huge umbrellas, and the fact that modern repairs did not include steel beams, which very likely would have pushed out the stone walls in the 800ºF heat. (I can't find the reference for that now, but I'd never thought of that possibility, only that the heat would make the stonework fail.)

Of course none of this would have mattered in the end if the firefighters hadn't been so brave and put themselves in the towers to form a wall of water which kept the fire away from the internal wooden structures. One severe injury only, as far as I'm aware. Now, there's a miracle.

[Squirrel]

Definitely a miracle Serinde and God Bless them for it too.