Shocking: 12th Century French Notre Dame Cathedral Church catches fire

The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, was engulfed in a massive fire Monday evening that has destroyed the monument’s spire and threatened to consume the entire structure.

The firefighters spent hours battling the flames but not before it devastated Paris’ one of the most revered historic sites. 

The blaze erupted at the centuries-old cathedral on Monday around 6:30 pm local time; news of the fire spread rapidly on social media as people shared photos showing bright-orange flames and smoke pouring from a spire of the church.

French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Like all our fellow citizens, I’m sad tonight to see this part of us burn,” US president Donald Trump also expressed sorrow and tweeted, “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!.”

Images on social media later showed the cathedral’s spire collapsing, swallowed up by the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet clear, though police told the Guardian that it appeared to be an accident and linked to restoration work. The approximately 800-year-old church, which is one of Paris’s most cherished attractions, has been in desperate need of repairs and restoration.

The construction of this church had begun in 1160 AD and went on till 1260 AD. This French Gothic Cathedral building is considered a marvel of medieval architecture. One has to climb 187 steps to reach the spire of the 69-metre-high spire. The most important and notable historical fact is that French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation ceremony was held in this building.