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Notre Dame fire: artworks to be sent to Louvre as donations pour in – live updates
Notre Dame fire: artworks to be sent to Louvre as donations pour in – live updates
(32 minutes later)
• Police and fire services will spend the next 48 hours assessing the “security and safety” of Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire at the historic monument in the centre of Paris on Monday evening.Laurent Nuñez, a junior interior minister, said on Tuesday that the primary concern of French authorities now was identifying weaknesses in the centuries-old structure.
• Private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was devastated by fire.The French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced on Tuesday that he and the LVMH luxury conglomerate he controls would donate €200m (£170m) to the reconstruction efforts.
• France’s culture minister says the “most precious treasures” of Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral have been saved after a devastating fire, including the crown of thorns Catholic relic and the tunic of Saint Louis.Franck Riester told reporters outside Notre Dame that other works are being transferred from a storeroom in City Hall to the Louvre on Tuesday and Wednesday. There they will be dehumidified, protected and eventually restored.
• Pope Francis has been offering his prayers that Notre Dame, the “architectural gem of a collective memory,” will once again be a shrine to the Catholic faith, a symbol of the French nation and a spiritual and architectural gift to humanity. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was “sad to see this part of us burn”, later tweeting that the cathedral would be rebuilt and announcing an international fundraising campaign to pay for reconstruction.
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Marc Bettinelli of Le Monde has been posting some images from Notre Dame since the outbreak of the fire. Here’s footage of the musician Gautier Capuçon, who came to play in tribute to the firefighters.
#NotreDame Le musicien Gautier Capuçon est venu jouer auprès de la cathédrale « en hommage aux @PompiersFR et pour transmettre un message d’espoir » pic.twitter.com/6dWFJuCFvV
Pledges from French corporations and wealthy families to help rebuild Notre Dame have topped €600 million, according to a report from the AFP news agency.
As some point out though, these are pledges.
#BREAKING Pledges from France's corporations and richest families to help rebuild the fire-ravaged #NotreDame cathedral in Paris have topped 600 million euros ($680 million)
European Council president Donald Tusk says the message of encouragement to France after the Notre Dame Cathedral fire should be that “it’s not the end of the world” and that the damage will be repaired.
Tusk told Polish reporters in Strasbourg after a European Parliament debate on Brexit that it was the duty of all Europeans and all Poles to give France courage after this “dramatic” event.
Recalling his native Poland’s efforts to rebuild its cities after the Second World War, Tusk said that his compatriots “have the right and the duty to say - You will manage, this is not the end of the world”.
Warsaw was one of those cities that was particularly badly damaged by Hitler’s troops in the second world war. Poles mobilised to rebuild the city with the rubble of its own destruction – and by drawing on the cityscapes, or vedute, of the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780).
Here’s a piece from the Guardian in 2016 about that fascinating story:
Story of cities #28: how postwar Warsaw was rebuilt using 18th century paintings
A leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party has tried to link the fire to what she described as “rising intolerance” against Christians in Europe, even though French investigators have insisted that they believe the inferno was an accident.
The AFP press agency reports that Alice Weidel, the parliamentary group leader of the Alternative for Germany, the country’s largest opposition party, implied a connection between Monday’s blaze and previous anti-Christian “attacks” in France.
“During Holy Week Notre Dame burns. March: second largest church Saint-Sulpice burns. February: 47 attacks in France,” Weidel wrote.
“The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe speaks of a significant increase,” she added, including a link to a March article in a German Catholic magazine headlined “Catholic churches desecrated across France”.
Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed.
Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed.
Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris Correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city since this morning.
Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris Correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city since this morning.
“I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn.
“I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn.
“We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.”
“We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.”
It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said.
It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said.
There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction.”
There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction.”
Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame
Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame
Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief Cabinet secretary.
Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief Cabinet secretary.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said.
Russian President Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians.” He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia is ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it.
Russian President Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians.” He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia is ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it.
Austrian President Van der Bellen raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame is “an important symbol of our common European culture.”
Austrian President Van der Bellen raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame is “an important symbol of our common European culture.”
(2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig
(2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig
Jean-Marc Fournier, the chaplain of Paris fire brigade, is being hailed as a hero after taking part in the recovery of the Crown of Thorns at the cathedral.
Speaking to reporters at the cathedral, Paris’ 15th district mayor Philippe Goujon said Tuesday that Fournier (pictured in the tweet below) insisted on being allowed to enter the edifice with fire fighters and played a role in the relic’s rescue.
Fournier’s bravery had been noted already after the Nov. 2016 Bataclan attack, when he tended to the injured and prayed over the dead.
According to an interview he gave to Christian Family magazine after that attack, Fournier was based in Germany and in the western Sarthe region, before joining the Paris fire brigade. He also served in the Diocese of the French Armed Forces and was based for a time in Afghanistan.
Le père Fournier, aumônier des @PompiersParis, est allé avec des pompiers dans la cathédrale #NotreDame pour sauver la couronne d’épines et le Saint-Sacrement... pic.twitter.com/4IoLVdoJZW
The first priority of technicians assessing safety at the Notre Dame site will be to identify which parts of the surviving structure are potentially unstable, according to Robert Bowles from Britain’s Institution of Structural Engineers.
Next come the job of providing safe access for engineers to assess how unstable they actually are.
“The next priority will be to assess the risk of problems as the masonry cools down, and devise means of removing the charred timbers sitting on the top of the vaults so that the stone itself can be inspected,” he added.
“That will probably involve work from cranes - so the workers are not standing on something that might give way.”
“Without the timber roof the masonry will be exposed to the elements, which is not a good thing. Someone will be rapidly working out how to erect temporary roofs, so the process of drying out can start - which is particularly important for the surviving fixtures and fittings.
Any reconstruction of Notre Dame will surely involve fire engineering to protect the iconic building from any future fire, according to Professor Guillermo Rein, Professor of Fire Science, Imperial College London.
He added that fire engineers will then consider a combination of layers of protection (prevention, detection, evacuation, compartmentation, suppression and endurance).
“Note that the previous timber roof that burnt last night was relying only on one single layer: prevention,” he said.
“The roof was known to be flammable, but they avoided the arrival of ignition sources. Unfortunately, it seems that the renovation works might have brought the ignition source which might have caused the accidental initial fire. I think the roof space had no detection, difficult evacuation, no compartmentation, no suppression, and no endurance.”
Julien Le Bras, who works for scaffolding company involved in the renovation of Notre Dame, gave an emotional statement to journalists earlier as well, Kim Willsher reports.
He said his company had worked on a number of historic buildings in France including the Louvre. None of the workers involved in the restoration of the cathedral were at the site when the fire broke out, he added.
“It is with unqualified sadness I am speaking. The police investigation is taking place and our workers will help answer questions with no reserve whatsoever to throw light on the cause of this drama.”
“ At the moment the fire started none of the workers of my company was present at the site. All security and fire requirements were respected.”
Junior interior minister Laurent Nunez has told journalists that the primary preoccupation of the police and fire services was the “security and safety of the building” and identifying weaknesses in Notre Dame’s structure.
“We have identified some vulnerabilities in the structure…notably in the vault and the north transept pinion that needs securing,” he said.
Nunez added this work would take 48 hours nd residents of five buildings around the north transept were being evacuated.
The minister again praised the actions of the Paris Fire Service, who he said had battled “not just outside but inside the building at great risk to their own lives”. There had been 500 firefighters at the scene after the fire broke out who were replaced by another 500 firefighters around midnight.
“They saved the edifice, but it all came down to 15-30 minutes,” he added.
Culture minister Franck Riester added that the religious relics saved from the cathedral, including the Crown of Thorns and Saint Louis’s tune, were being held in security at the Hotel du Ville and the rest of the works of art inside - which had suffered smoke damage - were being taken to the Louvre where they would be dried out, restored and stored.
He added the three beautiful stained-glass “rose” windows “do not appear to be damaged” but would be examined more closely when the cathedral had been made safe.
Architects have identified “three main holes” in the structure, that of the spire, the transept and the vault of the north transept.
The chief architect of Cologne Cathedral says it could take decades to repair the damage caused to Notre Dame by a massive fire.
Peter Fuessenich, who oversees all construction work for the Gothic cathedral in the German city, told broadcaster RTL that “it will certainly take years, perhaps even decades, until the last damage caused by this terrible fire will be completely repaired”.
Cologne Cathedral was heavily damaged during the Second World War and work to repair it is still ongoing more than 70 years later.
Fuessenich called the fire in Paris “a tragedy with a European dimension” as many churches and cathedrals across the continent were inspired by buildings in France.
He said that “when the last stone was set in Notre-Dame, the first one was laid here in Cologne, and in this respect it affects us all very much”. According to Fuessenich, the timbered roof of Cologne Cathedral was replaced with an iron frame during the 19th century, meaning a fire there would be less devastating.
The Anglican priest and journalist Giles Fraser has written for the Guardian, saying that Notre Dame will rise again.
Resurrection is inescapable in Holy Week. Notre Dame will rise again | Giles Fraser
He says:
That Notre Dame caught fire during this of all weeks will never be forgotten. The whole point of a medieval cathedral is that it should be read like a book, telling the Christian story especially for those unable to read. This fire will also be read as a part of the Christian narrative. And it is set to become an integral part of that great church’s story – a defining feature, for generations to come. On Good Friday, the church experiences desolation, the obliteration of hope. And then, on Sunday morning, hope impossibly returns. New life rises from the ashes.
In a message to the French president Emmanuel Macron, the Queen said she and Prince Philip were deeply saddened by the images of fire engulfing Notre Dame Cathedral. She said:
I extend my sincere admiration to the emergency services who have risked their lives to try to save this important national monument. My thoughts and prayers are with those who worship at the Cathedral and all of France at this difficult time.
Her Majesty The Queen has sent a message to The President of France following the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Read the full message here: https://t.co/wby58kXzv3
Prince Charles said he and the Duchess of Cornwall were “utterly heartbroken” by the fire, which he described as a “shattering tragedy, the unbearable pain of which we all share”.
My wife and I were utterly heartbroken to learn of the terrible fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral this evening and wanted to let you know immediately how much we are thinking of yourself and the French people at this most agonising of times, and of the emergency services who are so bravely tackling the blaze.
I realise only too well what a truly special significance the Cathedral holds at the heart of your nation; but also for us all outside France it represents one of the greatest architectural achievements of Western Civilisation. It is a treasure for all mankind and, as such, to witness its destruction in this most dreadful conflagration is a shattering tragedy, the unbearable pain of which we all share.
Cher Monsieur le President, our hearts go out to you and the people of France more than you can ever know, especially in view of our experience with the devastating fire at Windsor Castle 27 years ago.
We send you our most profound sympathy, however inadequate that may be.
Tres cordialement a vous.
The Prince of Wales has sent a message to The President of France following the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral.Read HRH’s message in full:https://t.co/Pm9UGCobHj
Journalist Na Qing has been monitoring reaction to the fire in China. She reports that it has been receiving some significant coverage in a country that is the source of increasing numbers of visitors to Paris in recent years. But the story remains below the main headlines.
Reports in the Chinese language editions of People’s Daily, China Daily and Chinese Global Television Network (CGTN) have summarised events of the past 48 hours.
Responses from Chinese netizens using platforms such as Wechat have been mixed. Some have compared the fire to the burning of Yuan Mingyuan, the Summer palace of the Qing dynasty, which took place that happened in 1860 during conflict between European and Chinese forces.
Others, however, have been expressing deep sadness and described such comparisons as ‘narrow nationalism’.
According to statistics from Xie Cheng, one of the largest Chinese travel agencies, Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the top three European tourism hotspots among Chinese visitors.
France is the most popular European destination for Chinese tourists, with around 900,000 flocking there in 2011, according to a report in 2012, a figure that was expected to quadruple in the next decade.
French readers have been getting in touch to share their reactions to the fire and thoughts about what might happen next.
Raïnat Aliloiffa, 26, in Paris, says the event is traumatic for all of France but has a hopeful message:
We still can’t believe it. Notre Dame is not only precious for Catholics but for all French people. It’s our cultural heritage. To see nine centuries of history burning like that is traumatic, but history shows that we have gone through a lot of dramas and as always we will get by. Notre Dame is French, but it belongs to the world – and together we will rebuild it.
Reader Maxime, 20, from Istres but studying at Paris-Sorbonne University, said:
It is impossible to fathom that the spire that had stood so high above the capital for what seemed like forever is now a smouldering pile of charred rubble amidst the choir, but I’m glad for everything that has been saved, from the priceless artworks to the historical relics, as well as the majestic stained glass roses.
I could not be more grateful to the firefighters who did everything they could to preserve the towers and the structure. I think the blaze helped me realise the truly massive scale and sheer size of the building, as well as the feats of craftsmanship that had to be accomplished during its construction, in the midst of the Dark Ages.
Camille, 30, also in Paris, references poet Jacques Prévert:
It has been a very difficult night. It is a terrible accident, but in a way, it is also a symbol of what we let happen to our culture, our heritage and our spirituality. History and culture are not just there to fuel the tourism industry, but should be kept at the centre of people’s lives and at the centre of the state investments. Prévert once said that “we recognised happiness by the noise it made as it left”. We can only hope that we can now recognise the importance of French culture by the noise it made as it went up in flames.
