Fire damages Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2019
Content Type

Summary:

The iconic cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris suffered considerable damage following a fire on 15 April 2019.

Further information:

Fire alarms went off at around 6.30 pm, shortly after an evening mass started and as thousands still gathered inside the cathedral. While everyone was evacuated into safety, the roof of Notre-Dame was severly damaged and the spire eventually collapsed. Firefighters managed to fully extinguish the fire in the early hours of the following day.

Several police sources stated the were working on the assumption that the fire had been an accident. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the cathedral following the fire. Groups and individuals also mobilised to help rebuild the monument, and hundreds of millions of euros were pledged since then to finance the required work.

The Notre-Dame cathedral - considered among the finest examples of French Gothic cathedral architecture - has been seen as a symbol of French culture heritage as it played a central role throughout France's history. The 850-year-old cathedral attracts 13 million visitors a year and is one of France's most popular sights.

Related Links
Official
European Commission [French], 15/04/2019: Déclaration du président Juncker suite à l'incendie à Notre-Dame, Paris http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-19-2155_fr.htm

News
Politico, 15/04/2019: Macron vows to rebuild Notre Dame after fire https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-postpones-speech-after-notre-dame-fire/
The Guardian, 16/04/2019: World leaders react to devasting Notre Dame fire in Paris https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/16/world-leaders-react-to-devastating-notre-dame-fire-in-paris
Reuters, 16/04/2019: Notre-Dame smoulders as investigation begins https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-notredame/notre-dame-smoulders-as-investigation-begins-idUKKCN1RS0B8
BBC News, 16/04/2019: Notre-Dame: Massive fire ravages Paris cathedral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47941794
EurActiv, 16/04/2019: ‘We are all with Paris today’: International sorrow as fire ravages Notre-Dame https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/we-are-all-with-paris-today-international-sorrow-as-fire-ravages-notre-dame-in-paris/
Politico, 16/04/2019: Notre Dame fire shakes France, tests Macron https://www.politico.eu/article/fire-strikes-shakes-france-emmanuel-macron/
BBC News, 16/04/2019: Notre-Dame fire: Millions pledged to rebuild cathedral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47943705
EurActiv, 16/04/2019: Europe ‘wounded’ by Notre-Dame fire, EU pledges help https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/europe-wounded-by-notre-dame-fire-eu-pledges-help/
Politico, 22/04/2019: The Notre Dame wildfire that can’t be put out https://www.politico.eu/article/the-notre-dame-wildfire-that-cant-be-put-out/
BBC News, 23/04/2019: Notre-Dame fire: Rain threatens France's damaged cathedral https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48022661

Commentary and Analysis
France24, 15/04/2019: Notre-Dame blaze: 24 hours that rocked Paris and shocked the world https://www.france24.com/en/20190415-liveblog-fire-paris-france-notre-dame-cathedral
Deutsche Welle, 16/04/2019: Notre Dame Cathedral: A symbol of France https://p.dw.com/p/3Gpy8
The Economist, 17/04/2019: France agonises over the fire that devastated Notre Dame https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/17/france-agonises-over-the-fire-that-devastated-notre-dame
Euro|topics, April 2019: Notre-Dame in flames https://www.eurotopics.net/en/218431/notre-dame-in-flames
The Conversation, 18/04/2019: Notre Dame: a history of medieval cathedrals and fire https://theconversation.com/notre-dame-a-history-of-medieval-cathedrals-and-fire-115658
BBC News, 20/04/2019: Notre-Dame fire: Eight centuries of turbulent history https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47971044
The Guardian, 22/04/2019: Victor Hugo gave Notre Dame life as the vibrant heart of France. It can be reborn https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/22/victor-hugo-notre-dame

Subject Categories
Subject Tags
Countries / Regions