Oh no! Notre Dame is on fire

[Almondmilktea]

Just heartbreaking

 

[ronandannette]

What time is it in Paris right now? We visited Notre Dame in 2017 around mid-day. There were literally thousands of people there; twice that many maybe if you counted those outside waiting in line and milling around the square observing the architecture from the exterior. Notre Dame is a "working" church, not only a tourist attraction and many of the people there at any given time are actually attending services and going about routine parish life. Evacuating them all seems like a pretty daunting task - prayers for everyone involved.

 

[SG131]

What time is it in Paris right now? We visited Notre Dame in 2017 around mid-day. There were literally thousands of people there; twice that many maybe if you counted those outside waiting in line and milling around the square observing the architecture from the exterior. Notre Dame is a "working" church, not only a tourist attraction and many of the people there at any given time are actually attending services and going about routine parish life. Evacuating them all seems like a pretty daunting task - prayers for everyone involved.

It's 8 pm.

 

[RUDisney]

I have chills and feel sick to my stomach. For this beautiful cathedral to have survived since the 12th century and be annihilated in 2019 is mind-boggling.

 

[Pooh93]

So devastating. Unbelievable.

 

[BrianL]

Oh, that is so awful. This is a beautiful, 800 year old building. I hope they can save it! It was one of the things I most wanted to see in Paris, and I was planning to go later this year.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Omg I may cry!

I did, telling DH.

I just saw it on the news a couple of minutes ago, and I can hardly believe it.

 

[Farro]

This is such a tragedy. I'm crying.

 

[kdonnel]

For this beautiful cathedral to have survived since the 12th century and be annihilated in 2019 is mind-boggling.

Fires caused by renovation has destroyed or devastated many buildings and ships.

 

[Patches Lee]

It's horrible to see such a beautiful and historic building on fire. I'm sure DD10 will be upset once she finds out. It's as iconic to her as the Opera House.

 

[firefly_ris]

Just saw the video of the spire falling.... oh my.


https://twitter.com/patrickgaley/status/1117848909877895171

 

[Jennasis]

Oh my God.

 

[MrsDuck]

Absolutely heartbreaking. So much history in one place.

 

[mmouse37]

So devastating

 

[NJlauren]

I did, telling DH.

I just saw it on the news a couple of minutes ago, and I can hardly believe it.

I can not believe it at all!

We are actually scheduled to visit in just over a month! I am so devastated the rest of my family may never get to see this amazing landmark.

 

[Mermaid02]

This is so horrible. They are saying there are many many priceless works of art in the building as well.

 

[BadPinkTink]

this is so devastating, not just for France but for world history. Almost 1000 years of history and priceless artefacts and architecture destroyed by fire.

In 2006 I visited the Cathedral and went to a Mass service. I didnt take any photos at the time, and always planned to go back

 

[SirDuff]

Two of my favourites from my last visit

 

[Geoff_M]

The cause is unknown, but suspected to be tied to renovations.

This is so devastating to watch.

I believe that the source of this notion was that church officials did say that the fire originated in a construction area in the part of the church that was under renovation. Time will tell, but it seems to be the likely cause. It's amazing how often this happens. The historic court house where our marriage license is housed burned due to a workman's soldering iron that was being used to repair a roof line. And at one of the oldest buildings on the campus where I went to college another restoration accident caused the section of the building that housed the old clock tower to burn.

 

[JaxDad]

Just FWIW, there have been recent vandalism incidents at Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Denis cathedrals in Paris. I really hope that is not the case here, although it is just so sad no matter what the cause. I've been to all three, including a mass at Saint-Sulpice, and they are truly priceless.