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Notre Dame Cathedral is known to be one of Paris’s most famous religious landmarks which is over 850 years old. On April 15, the cathedral caught fire, resulting in both the spire and the roof collapsing while almost 500 firefighters worked to combat the flames for 12 hours. Much of the stained-glass windows, the wooden interior, and nearly 900-year-olds art were destroyed. Fortunately, the main structure and the two bell towers were saved from this tragic event.
How did the Notre Dame fire start? A question that we all ask. Officials say that is could be due to the most recent renovations that began after cracks started to appear in the stone structures in the church.
“We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautiful and I want that to be done in the next five years. The fire of Notre Dame reminds us that our story never ends. And that we will always have challenges to overcome. What we believe to be indestructible can also be touched” French president Macron said after the tragedy.
In response to the fire, thousands of people gathered in the streets surrounding the gothic cathedral to observe and pray in silence. Among those, many tears were shed and others sang hymns as they watch the beloved Notre Dame battle the flames. Other churches around the area of Paris rang their bells as many Catholics paid their respects to the religious landmark.
President Macron canceled a scheduled speech he was going to make in response to the recent protests going on in France for the past month and visited the scene. He expressed that the Notre Dame was for “all French people,” regardless of having been there or not as it was a historical landmark that survived hundreds of years of French history. He additionally thanked and praised the firefighters for their courage and professionalism.
After the tragic events of last week, questions are being raised about protecting other historical cathedrals, palaces and village spires in not only France but Italy, Britain, and Spain which to this day preserve some of Europe’s most historical buildings.
For more information please visit BBC News, Huffington Post, and The Washington Post.
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