Notre Dame on Fire
 

Uh yeah, this tragedy of history, architecture, religion, and literature is happening.

Started during renovation. The roof has completely collapsed and the spire is gone.

So far there are no casualties, and arson is very unlikely.

Ironic, really.

Has it ever been on fire before?

Did Quasimodo manage to get Esmerelda out of there before the blaze started?

No, this is real life, where people like Frollo are the victors.

Life ain't a Disney movie.

Says YOU, sir. I'm still waiting in my enchanted tower for a dashing princess to come sweep me off my feet and solve all my problems with her magic animal friends.

I think it's the first time : the framework of the roof was from the XIIIth century (very good wood but very inflammable), so …

From a french point of view what is ironic is that tonight our president should have made an adress concluding the "Great Debate", a debate organised to calm down the yellow vests movement (I don't know if people know about it). For four monthes, every saturday, there were protest marches, pallets on traffic circles here and there in France, even some stuff burnt on the Champs Elysées, it's going to cost some money, and now … How would you say that in English ? We hit the jackpot ?

It looks like it will be a total loss. History died today.

Here is the live feed that I have had on since I was notified an hour and a half ago.


One good thing is no one was there and no human lives will be lost.

Didn't I see this movie before? I guess it's true what they say, sometimes life imitates art. Or truth is stranger than fiction. The irony.

Wow, that is tragic given its age.

What an absolute tragedy. It's such an iconic piece of Parisian, French, and even world history. I've always wanted to see it. Thank goodness they managed to save the structure. Hopefully the renovations are quick. I'd love to see it before I kick the bucket.

First the National Museum of Brazil, now Notre Dame de Paris, no casualties in either, but a lot of history engulfed, may be a message, or may be even a "Shining", something from the past come back to haunt the present, these places did have a long past.

This is tragic. So much history, up in flames. It survived both world wars, even with bombing, and this is how it ends.... So terrible. It's fortunate no lives were lost, and hopefully it can be rebuilt.

When I read this in the news, it really broke my heart.:cry:

I'm glad that no one was injured or killed.

But still, this is such a historical loss for France. Hopefully, most of it can be repaired.

I heard on the radio on the way home from work that 7 billion had been pledged by French billionaires and the cathedral is sparred, but has betwern 10 to 15 years of repairs ahead of it.

This thread was cleaned of the arguments.

Thanks, good job. Can someone post GIF of a brush or something :lol:


Anyway there is someone good news. They have raised 600 million euros for the restoration effort. Id imagine that is would not cost more than a few hundred million, but I could very well be wrong.

I also wondered what even caused the fire? Has there been any news or report on that front?

Thank you Barkworm, the gesture is appreciated.

It seems we will never know what really happened. For the restoration site of the spire, electric tools, alarms, and other temporary electrical installations were needed. It's certainly an accident : it's not the first time a historical building suffers fire during restoration work.

But in order to know exactly what happened, investigators have to find clues in the debris. It will take a long time, and since the fire was so violent, there is little hope : clues are certainly destroyed. We won't even learn from the mistake that was made so that it never happens again.

I'm happy that the organs can be saved. I don't think it's possible to build an exact replica of that kind of instrument.