Fire in Notre Dame: what is unique about Notre Dame de Paris

Catastrophic fire swept on Monday evening the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The flame destroyed the roof of the building, led to the collapse of the spire, caused significant damage to the interior decoration and threatened the rest of the world-famous building.

Фото: Depositphotos

Deputy Mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire said that the cathedral suffered enormous damage and that emergency services are trying to save works of art and other priceless treasures stored in the cathedral.

The wooden parts of the cathedral were destroyed by fire.

What other characteristic elements is this 850-year-old building in the Gothic style famous for and why is it so unique even for a city that is filled with historical landmarks?

Window roses

Фото: Depositphotos

Among the most famous features of the Paris cathedral are its three huge stained glass rose windows, which date back to the 13th century. It is currently unknown whether any of them survived the fire.

The first and smallest stained rose, with a diameter of 9,6 meters, located on the western facade, was completed around 1225 of the year. Both outside and inside, the Virgin Mary with the Baby is placed in the center of the flower-window rim.

The diameter of the southern rose is about 13 meters, it consists of 84 panels.

Only a part of the original stained glass windows was able to survive to this day, many were destroyed during the previous fires.

On the subject: What to do in case of a fire in a public place: a reminder that can save your life

Two towers

Фото: Depositphotos

The eyes of numerous visitors are chained to the two Gothic towers, crowning the western facade of the cathedral.

Work on the western facade began in 1200, but the first of the two towers, the northern one, was completed only 40 years later.

It took 10 more years to complete work on the south tower, its construction was completed in 1250.

The height of both towers is 68 meters, although they are not exactly the same: the northern tower is more massive than the southern one. Until the beginning of the XNUMXth century, bells were located only in the northern tower.

To get to the very top, from where panoramic views of Paris are opened, visitors need to cross the 387 steps.

Gargoyles and Chimeras

Фото: Depositphotos

Another world-famous distinctive feature of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is the terrifying appearance of gargoyles and chimeras, which everyone passes by who feels the strength to climb the steps to the very top.

These fantastic creatures, usually a mixture of several animals, crowned the protruding ends of the cathedral beams.

Фото: Depositphotos

Chimeras are statues of fantastic animals. The most famous of them is Strix, a half-woman, half-bird, who looks out over the city from the top of the cathedral, resting her head in her hands.

Bells

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is set 10 bells. The largest, weighing 23 tons, is named Emmanuel. It was installed on the south tower in 1685. In 1944, it was the ringing of Emmanuel who announced the liberation of Paris from the Nazis.

Фото: Depositphotos

In 2012, on the eve of the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the cathedral, bells reappeared on the north tower of the cathedral. It was already a copy - the original bells were melted down into cores during the French Revolution. And the XNUMXth century bells that replaced them were dissonant with Emmanuel.

Eight new bells were cast in Vildieu-Le-Poil in Normandy using ancient Egyptian methods. Each was given the name of one of the saints.

Notre Dame is where the action of Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris takes place. The writer's task was to use the Gothic cathedral of Paris as the main character, which at that time was going to be demolished or modernized.

In the novel, Victor Hugo described the cathedral as follows: “A man understands the art of contemplation when he can notice the spirit of the times and the royal features as soon as he knocks on the door.”

The main character of the work, the hunchback Quasimodo, scares the locals with his ugly appearance, but finds refuge in the cathedral and gets a ringer job.

Nearly 900 years of French History + history of art and architecture are gone today…. I still can't believe it ... #Paris #NotreDame#Notre Dame Cathedral #Fire#Historical pic.twitter.com/JsUSA8ogFf

- sandmartjo (@sandmartjo) April 15, 2019

Gothic spire

The famous spire of Notre Dame was originally established in the XII century.

Фото: Depositphotos

Over the centuries-old history of the construction and completion of the temple, it has undergone a series of changes, including dismantling during the French Revolution and restoration in the 1860s. Its height is 96 meters.

We are sending our thoughts to the #Paris crews fighting the #Notre Dame Cathedral fire tonight. Stay safe? #NotreDame #999Family #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/giDToaqx8Z

- Essex Fire Service (@ECFRS) April 15, 2019

One of our very own's son was in the Cathedral of Notre Dame when the fire started…..he shot this heart breaking video. ? Brycen Gagnon #Notre Dame Cathedral #paris pic.twitter.com/VEsZvp4rrc

—THEJFRD (@THEJFRD) April 15, 2019

Relics

In the Cathedral of Notre Dame there are important Christian relics. Among them, it is believed, a fragment of the Cross of the Lord, a nail and a crown of thorns.

Фото: Depositphotos

It was reported that the crown, which, according to the Gospels, the Roman soldiers put on the head of Christ before the crucifix, was saved from fire because it was kept in a protected vault.

There was also information that other relics and especially valuable objects of art that were kept in the cathedral were removed from it before the beginning of the restoration works.

#Paris| #Notre Dame Cathedral - crowds gather all around Saint-Louis tonight paying respects through song. This was Pont de la Tournelle at 1am w / the Cathedral in the background. The water remains in the central structure from elevated platforms. pic.twitter.com/0b0UpHbx9t

— Mikey Kay ??????? (@MikeyKayFilms) April 15, 2019

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• The fire that engulfed the Paris Cathedral of Notre Dame on 15 on April extinguished. The flame destroyed the roof, the clock and the spire, as well as the wooden elements of the structure. Firemen fought with fire for more than nine hours.

• In June, 2017, at the police officers on duty near the cathedral, attacked by a lone terroristarmed with a hammer and knives. One policeman was injured, the attacker himself was injured by return fire. Because of the attacks in the cathedral, about 900 tourists were blocked.

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