[sarahsweets]

Oh no, that's such a beautiful and historic building. I read there was reconstruction work going on. I hope no one got hurt.

[happysobercrafter]

I saw that!! How terrible to see Medieval History destroyed.

[Mountaindewed]

I wonder if it was a terrorist attack? I’m scared to go on vacation in Paris with everything that’s been going on these past few years.

I heard they were going to go in and try to save some of the artwork.

[Taylor27]

So sad wonder if it is a terrorist attack

[sarahsweets]

My husband says its 850 years old, my brother said "1160" but I dont know if he meant that as in 1160 years old or the year 1160. He just sent me another pic from when he went to Paris two months ago.

[Mopey]

I read the other day that Notre Dame was so old and decrepit that it had to be continually worked on. There are probably parts of it that are newer than other parts, as a result. Only time I've visited Paris was in 1968, and it was completely surrounded by scaffolding at that time.

Husband told me at lunch today they think maybe one of the workmen currently employed there may have started the fire.....

850 years or so from it's earliest bits...it did very well considering the times and events it endured. Life will go on though and the French will rebuild what they can. I heard there is much of the main structure than can be used in the reconstruction. In another few hundred years this event will be remembered as part of it's venerable history. Sad day though...it hurts to see this.

A group is singing hymns outide...it's an emotional thing to hear as you watch the glow in the background.

[Gabe1205]

Very sad. Visited in 7th grade. Have friends in Paris.

[WishfulThinker66]

I was there in Nov 2010. I am not religious yet the beauty of this building struck me spiritually. So sad to see such an old and long-standing symbol of an entire community in flames.

They are saying they have saved the super structure. Thank goodness.

Terrorism? Maybe domestic. The vile yellow vest movement has been lighting fire to much of the tourists areas for months now. Let us hope this is not the case. How horrible.

more then likely caused by welding during the renovations. happens frequently during work on older structures unfortunately. the wooden pieces are so dry that you must be every careful. special practices must be followed for safety. terrorism could be a factor given that is it holy week but construction work is way more probably especially since the fire started up on top.

[healingme4me]

Watched some of the footage with the kids today. Disbelief. What heartache :'(

[divine1966]

Very sad. I was there few years back. I think 2009 and 2012. Terrible to think it’s not there anymore. But glad no one got hurt

This is a virtual tour of the cathedral. I thought one might exist so I went looking. It's from a few yrs ago I guess. Notre Dame will be reborn I'm sure.

https://www.360cities.net/image/fran...dame-cathedral

Actually the site itself is very interesting...places from all over viewable in a 360 degree vitual format. Very cool!

[divine1966]

I am pretty sure they’ll rebuild it.

[saidso]

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

I was there in Nov 2010. I am not religious yet the beauty of this building struck me spiritually. So sad to see such an old and long-standing symbol of an entire community in flames.

They are saying they have saved the super structure. Thank goodness.

Terrorism? Maybe domestic. The vile yellow vest movement has been lighting fire to much of the tourists areas for months now. Let us hope this is not the case. How horrible.

That's a strange point of view about the yellow vest movement indeed! Do you actually know anything at all about it???? I feel upset by what you said there because I spend half my time in France and have talked to a lot of humble people protesting in that movement. Yes, upset! How dare you make judgements on people who are struggling to improve their very basic standard of living in a distant country that you think you know through 5 minutes of ignorant media or 5 days as a freakin tourist!

[saidso]

Sorry, backing off and not taking over this gentle, compassionate thread. It doesn't matter to yellow jackets what foreigners think, they are having some impact on the greed of French politicians which gives hope to people living on basic wages in very humble occupations = caregiver, lorry driver, agricultural worker. What Wishful Thinker wrote made me cry, but I'm not the ones who spend all their free time standing in the cold on roundabouts in the hope someone can hear their struggle. They are sterner stuff than me, and crying is a fools game.

I'm sad to hear that some/ another terroristic person may have again seen fit to tear down something precious/ intimate/ human. A French friend said to me last week that France has a terrible history of ideological violence: religious oppression is etched on the walls of all their southern towns and formed the underlying laicism of their constitution. Violently destructive ideologies...

There is something that I don't understand about how human beings... can believe that their ideas are more important than life itself. Medieval cathedrals supported hope during times of terrible oppression and disease. Yet human spiritual beliefs can be deeper than respect for human life. Life seems so fragile and unknowable to me. Yet some of my friends think their beliefs are more important: and all of that good and bad is "religion".

Our brains, emotions and physical bodies seems to go in different directions...

[healingme4me]

@saidso. That gave me this emotional/imagery of ideology of yellow jacket and how it would go against the grain of the moral fiber.

To add: we just finished our celebration of Patriot Day, I would hope for compassion in what you're saying

[Velvet Lounger]

Notre Dame is a national treasure. I am sure it will be rebuilt. The Church will pay for it; they have plenty of money anyway. But it's so heartbreaking. Watching the TV last night I cried.

[healingme4me]

I agree about the rebuilding. It will be part of its story. Gutwrenching to watch.

[Velvet Lounger]

'Notre-Dame saved within vital half-hour' - BBC News tonight.

[TishaBuv]

What a horrific tragedy. I hope it was just an accident and wasn’t intentional. I am incredibly sad at the lost, priceless artwork.

[WishfulThinker66]

Originally Posted by saidso

That's a strange point of view about the yellow vest movement indeed! Do you actually know anything at all about it???? I feel upset by what you said there because I spend half my time in France and have talked to a lot of humble people protesting in that movement. Yes, upset! How dare you make judgements on people who are struggling to improve their very basic standard of living in a distant country that you think you know through 5 minutes of ignorant media or 5 days as a freakin tourist!

Saidso, I am sorry you feel that way, but the movement has in fact been responsible for violent protests for months now at major landmarks in the city of Paris. I point out lighting fire to and sabotaging the Arc de Triomphe on 1 Dec. In March, for the 18th straight week of protests, the yellow vests smashed windows and lit fires up and down the Champs-Elysées. More recently they set fire to the famous cafe, Le Fouquet and other well known restaurants and boutiques. Shall I point out more?

While yes, the yellow vest movement started out peacefully about tax and employment reform, it quickly degenerated into the anti-immigrant anti-Muslim disgusting belief system. This has in turn been taken up by the far ultra right wing elements of society around the Western world and, yes, is connected to vile racism, homophobia, and religiously intolerant members of society in places like even Canada.

A simple Google of the 'yellow vest movement' should suffice.

[sarahsweets]

They said it was a short circuit. Imagine being the dude who may have contributed to that...