I blogged about my first visit to Notre Dame in 1969 just last year. There are so many wonderful memories about this beautiful structure. It wasn't until this morning that I was able to search my old picture albums from my 1999 visit. At the time, the entire front of the cathedral was covered in scaffolding as it was being cleaned for the year 2000 celebration.
Already, nearly $600 million dollars had been pledged to rebuild the cathedral. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is collecting donations here in the USA. It seems like an easier task to collect the money than it will be to rebuild. But Europeans have restored many churches and palaces destroyed by their wars and I have no doubt this will be any different.
Here are a few of my photos from 1999.
When I turned on the news and saw the steeple fall and see how huge the fire was, I too, crumpled into tears and, at first, thought it might be arson and think that anyone who does this to a major art piece whether it is art or architecture, should be shot. Now, it appears, to be an accident from the work that was being done. If this is the case, I feel very bad for the person who made this error because he will feel so much guilt and he will be vilified. He will need counselling and protection I think. To hear 2 of the rose windows have been destroyed makes me ill but I believe they can bring this great Cathedral back. If the Germans and Austrians plus other war ravaged countries can bring many of the great cathedrals back from ruin, then this great Cathedral can be brought back and I remain hopeful
ReplyDeleteRemember the recent fire at Windsor Castle? They raised money and rebuilt it. Hope Notre Dame is done for the current generation to enjoy it.
DeleteI have never been there and probably won't make it there, but my niece who had visited it was very distraught yesterday about it. It is good it will be rebuilt. I heard a lot of people are pledging money for it. I would imagine it will be a project that will take a while to complete.
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My reaction really surprised me.
DeleteSo sad! My family members were just there two weeks ago!!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin lives there. I need to call his Mom this evening.
DeleteHi Denise - I must have been there ... but don't remember. I was amazed to find out that the spire was wooden. It's incredible what can be done for our heritage buildings after a disaster. When I visited Canterbury Cathedral (Sept 2015) for a tour of the roof area as they are restoring and repairing the building ... they told us they'd 'swapped' restoration processes from other Cathedrals - especially York after the fire ... and each had different building methods - which makes sense considering the time span of centuries ago. They've also been restoring and repairing Westminster Abbey - so there'll be information there. Equally I'm sure the French will have had similar projects - but it will be very interesting to 'follow along' and see first what the damage is, and then how they'll go about restoring it. Your photos are great memories ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe day before the fire I was watching an American show called 'Ask This Old House'. They talked about fire danger and pointed out problems with wood siding and wood shingled roofs. When i resided my wood sided home with fiber cement siding, I got an insurance discount. You just don't think about the roofs on these old buildings being made of wood. At least I don't.
DeleteWith Europe's extensive (sad) experience with wars, I have no doubt that they will be able to repair/rebuild. I have never been to Europe, and I am sorry I didn't have the opportunity to see Notre Dame before the fire. We have a Sacred Sites Sunday event annually in New York State where local churches open, and I've been in enough smaller churches to have a feeling for how much was lost. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI am not a religious person, but I love going to churches and cathedrals and marveling at the architecture. It is amazing to me to think of what these people went through at the time this cathedral was build in the 1100's. Now they say they cannot find timbers large enough to rebuild the roof the way it was done in the past.
DeleteSo much about this devastation was heartbreaking, like seeing the steeple fall and knowing how much was lost. Initially that was all I could focus on. Now I'm trying to see what was saved, the treasures removed and the beautiful stained glass. And it warms my heart to see how many people are stepping up to help fund the reconstruction. It'll never be the same, but at least it will be.
ReplyDeleteSeems now they are worried about the integrity of the walls because of the heat and water. Guess we'll wait and see.
DeleteThe obvious thing here is to make a quasimodo joke but that would be too easy.
ReplyDeleteWill it really take $600 million to rebuild the church, seems a bit pricey.
I heard the cost would be in the billions. I thought it was high too.
DeleteBeing easily accessible to me, I visit Paris quite often and I always start with a climb up to Notre Dame. I simply couldn't believe what I was seeing when I saw the fire on the news. The most amazing picture I saw was the golden crucifix gleaming through the greyness of the burnt interior.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the crucifix was on the front page of our newspapers here.
DeleteI was impressed by the picture of the golden crucifix too. I didn't realise the roof was wooden, before the fire that is, I mistakenly thought all such buildings were stone. I am delighted so much money has been pledged to help the rebuilding. Loved your pix. I think I was 18 when I visited, or maybe 15 when I stayed en famille.
ReplyDeleteFunny how I never realized the roof was wood either. My son suggested that they might have to construct a steel roof.
DeleteWe were lucky enough to visit Notre Dame when we were in Paris years ago. Judy walked up the stairs to the top of one of the towers while I waited outside.
ReplyDeleteGood for Judy. It is quite the hike with quite the reward.
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