Notre Dame Is Burning

[yuna628 9,680]

Watching the news with a heavy heart. One of the most beautiful historical relics in the world is on fire.. the damage looks to be severe, and I do not think they can do much about it. Footage on tv isn't reflecting how bad it's looking on French tv and eyewitnesses. If you've ever had the chance to see this place for yourselves... it is truly a wonder to behold.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47941794

Edited April 15, 2019 by yuna628

[millefleur 5,047]

It's terrible. I'm a huge medievalist and a francophile, this is just beyond sad. I know the cathedral has been repaired many times before but I don't believe it's ever been damaged this badly so quickly. 😭Notre Dame de Paris is one of my favorite books, if not my favorite book, because of all the passages written about this building.

 

It was restored in the 19th century but I don't know if it can ever be returned back to that state after the look of the fire. This is such terrible, terrible news. It's a loss for humanity, art and history. Of course France has tons of other amazing (if not even better technically speaking) cathedrals, but this one is such an iconic symbol of Paris, it practically is Paris. I can't imagine a Paris without Notre Dame. 😭

[yuna628 9,680]

25 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It's terrible. I'm a huge medievalist and a francophile, this is just beyond sad. I know the cathedral has been repaired many times before but I don't believe it's ever been damaged this badly so quickly. 😭Notre Dame de Paris is one of my favorite books, if not my favorite book, because of all the passages written about this building.

 

It was restored in the 19th century but I don't know if it can ever be returned back to that state after the look of the fire. This is such terrible, terrible news. It's a loss for humanity, art and history. Of course France has tons of other amazing (if not even better technically speaking) cathedrals, but this one is such an iconic symbol of Paris, it practically is Paris. I can't imagine a Paris without Notre Dame. 😭

Hearing from the spokesperson that the entire structure inside is gone. The only thing that will be left is the outside stone... now charred.

[millefleur 5,047]

4 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

Hearing from the spokesperson that the entire structure inside is gone. The only thing that will be left is the outside stone... now charred.

It will take decades to restore and will never be the same. I assume a lot of the art exhibits and other objects inside were not recovered and are now destroyed. 

[yuna628 9,680]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It will take decades to restore and will never be the same. I assume a lot of the art exhibits and other objects inside were not recovered and are now destroyed. 

Indeed. There are some relics inside that are thousands of years old... some which are purported to be from the Crucifixion and some from Saints all of which were contained in the spire that is gone. I hope there has been no loss of life.

 

It's interesting though that if you review some materials on how the structure was built, there is supposedly a water reservoir that was placed to help extinguish fire, but does not seem to have helped here.

[millefleur 5,047]

1 minute ago, yuna628 said:

It's interesting though that if you review some materials on how the structure was built, there is supposedly a water reservoir that was placed to help extinguish fire, but does not seem to have helped here.

It could be that it wasn't functional due to age or in disrepair...who knows. Gothic architecture is so mindbogglingly complex that most architects today would have no clue how it build it or how it all worked. It'll be up to the art historians to figure it out. It will be a massive undertaking.

 

Well, if there are any artworks sitting around in museums across the world that have been removed from the cathedral, they ought to be returned once it is restored. 

 

Here is a photo I took of the building in December 2008, a view through the oldest tree in Paris:

 

[millefleur 5,047]

 

Just a close up of the doors to get an idea of the magnificence of this building that I took in 2008. It's such a tragedy.  😢

Edited April 15, 2019 by millefleur

[yuna628 9,680]

Police report they have been able to save main structure containing the bells.

But from this footage large areas look gutted.

 

 

 

 

[millefleur 5,047]

23 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

Police report they have been able to save main structure containing the bells.

But from this footage large areas look gutted.

I'm glad they were able to save the towers...I honestly thought the whole thing was doomed from the look of the fire. Apparently a bunch of art historians/preservationists had been bickering for years that the building had once again fallen into disrepair but there was a ton of red tape around getting the repairs done in a timely manner. I hope this horrible disaster will raise public awareness about keeping such monuments in better shape and open up more public and government generosity towards saving old monuments. 

 

A few of the relics were saved, more info should be coming out as to what was saved and what wasn't soon, possibly tomorrow.

[Falcon Cara 378]

Any word on Hunchback?

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

[Boiler 45,663]

It is very expensive to properly look after these building especially in our current world, middle of the night there, no doubt tomorrow will tell more.

[theresaL 408]

Notre Dame is much more than just a historical monument. It is the home to the Archdiocese of Paris and a working church with active congregation. Its very sad and a terrible loss to the city, but especially to the faithful who worshiped there.

[OriZ 3,157]

10 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Watching the news with a heavy heart. One of the most beautiful historical relics in the world is on fire.. the damage looks to be severe, and I do not think they can do much about it. Footage on tv isn't reflecting how bad it's looking on French tv and eyewitnesses. If you've ever had the chance to see this place for yourselves... it is truly a wonder to behold.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47941794

Been about 22 years since I was there...indeed very sad.

[millefleur 5,047]

Donations for restoration are pouring in already. I really really hope restoration efforts will go towards keeping it truly gothic and medieval...Here's a close up of some of the interior detailing I took when I visited: