The square in front of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris has been closed to the public after tests again revealed high concentrations of toxic lead particles, the Paris police department said Tuesday. The fire that ravaged the 13th-century monument two years ago melted some 300 tonnes of lead panelling in the roof, spewing the metal across […]
Notre-Dame
Scammers preying on Notre-Dame donors, France warns
Fraudsters are taking advantage of the Notre-Dame fire to fool donors into handing over cash believing they are helping to rebuild the gutted Paris cathedral, officials have warned. The French Heritage Foundation, which has so far collected more than 13 million euros ($14.5 million) from individual donors to help restore the gothic landmark, said any […]
Notre Dame organists itching to play thunderous instrument again
They literally made Notre Dame tremble and made hearts sing. And they’re anxious to do so again. The organists of Notre Dame, the privileged few who got to play the thunderous great organ silenced by the fire that ravaged the cathedral, spent terrible hours worried that the instrument with 8,000 pipes and a vast range […]
Disney offers $5m for the Notre-Dame it once immortalized on film
Disney, which scored millions with the 1996 animated blockbuster “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” said Wednesday it would give $5 million to restore the fire-damaged Paris cathedral. “Notre-Dame is a beacon of hope and beauty that has defined the heart of Paris and the soul of France for centuries, inspiring awe and reverence for its […]
Macron vows to rebuild a ‘more beautiful’ Notre-Dame in 5 years
President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild Notre-Dame “even more beautifully” within five years, as all of France’s cathedrals prepared to ring their bells on Wednesday to mark 48 hours since the devastating fire began. The blaze on Monday gutted the great Paris landmark, destroying the roof, causing the steeple to collapse and leaving France […]
‘The Pillars of the Earth’ author Follett mourns Notre-Dame
The author of what may be the world’s most popular book about a cathedral told AFP that watching Notre-Dame being eaten up by flames made him feel like someone was dying. British writer Ken Follett’s 1989 historical novel “The Pillars of the Earth” sold tens of millions of copies and spent 18 weeks atop The […]
More than just a church: How Notre Dame has featured in film and fiction
The historic Parisian landmark of Notre Dame is not just a place of worship – it has also inspired the stories of best-selling authors and Hollywood filmmakers. With its stunning Gothic architecture and imposing beauty, it is unsurprising writers have been drawn to the cathedral as the focal point for tales of love and romance. […]
Notre-Dame, soul of the French nation
Paris was struck in its very heart on Monday as flames devoured the roof of Notre-Dame, the medieval cathedral made famous by Victor Hugo, its two massive towers flanked with gargoyles instantly recognisable even by people who have never visited the city. Thousands of Parisians poured into the streets to watch as the fire spread, […]
France launches global contest to design new Notre-Dame spire
France will invite architects from around the world to submit designs for rebuilding the spire of Notre-Dame cathedral that was destroyed in a devastating blaze, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Wednesday. The goal is “to give Notre-Dame a new spire that is adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era,” Philippe told reporters […]
Billionaires and private donors mobilise to rebuild Notre-Dame
Billionaires and private donors pledged hundreds of millions of euros on Tuesday to help rebuild Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris which has been devastated by fire. President Emmanuel Macron has vowed the emblematic monument will be rebuilt after its spire and roof collapsed Monday night in a blaze thought to be linked to extensive renovation work. […]