The fire of the world-famous Cathedral, met in Paris to the Mark. But hours later, it is clear that The Church is fully restored. Well, because Paris without Notre-Dame would be simply unimaginable, says Rick Fulker.
The apocalyptic images of the world-famous Cathedral in flames are still fresh. As the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York on 11. September 2001 are seared now into the collective memory.
Is there an event that would be of the faithful, art enthusiasts and tourists, more pain? The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is the epitome of Gothic architecture, the most visited monument in Europe, a building that had, for almost 900 years, its place in the heart of Paris and a incomparable importance for Christians as it is for art and culture lovers alike.
And again, Paris! After the terrible terrorist attacks to Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan meets this sad news in Mark and leg, and shows how thin and fragile the veneer of civilization is. How many wounds can tolerate the proud city?
Compassion and advice
Immediately leading world turned politicians words as the shock, and of sympathy to France. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, called Notre-Dame, the “epicenter of our lives” and brought the collective pain of all the French expression: “Here is also a part of burns one of us”.
Even US President Donald Trump, who is not just suspected to be a devotee of high culture, lamented the destruction of one of the “greatest Treasures of the world” and “a part of our culture”, to embarrass, only to immediately afterwards, he warned the French authorities “to act quickly” and the Paris fire brigade asked why they began in simply fire-fighting aircraft. Quite simply, because of the tons of heavy masses of water could have destroyed the damaged roof structure and the interior of the Cathedral completely.
DW editor: Rick Fulker
Renovation = Destruction?
For two centuries, the Cathedral was built. Since the year 1345 it is completed to the Paris Ile de la Cité. What has not survived this lady everything? Louis XIV. was the equipment of the interior is outdated; he let him completely transform. During the French Revolution the Church was profaned, all the stone figures to be removed and the building used as a wine storage used. The Cathedral overcame two world wars: You got the impression that you would no, no, no: you must always be there.
In fact, however, the building was greatly in need of renovation. Gargoyles were broken, flying buttresses stained by the pollution of the air, the water in the columns in the wooden frame of the pointed tower is invaded. The cause of the fire has not yet been clarified completely, currently, the investigators assume, however, that it has not acted in a wanton destruction, or even to a stop, but an accident, the work with the renovation.
If this is the case, then a special, almost paradoxical tragedy would be: During the attempt to save the old structure of the Cathedral, was destroyed. The encounter of old Material and new technology had devastating consequences.
Paris without Notre Dame? Non!
Probably you know sometime more about the sequence of events. At the Moment, only bewilderment remains. But Paris without Notre Dame? Inconceivable! Not 24 hours after the outbreak of the fire, promised the Polish and the German government aid for reconstruction. Two French billionaire family announced, to a total of around 300 million euros for the restoration. The city of Paris found itself 50 million euros and a conference on the coordination of international donations. The Foundation of the (homonymous) the Frauenkirche in Dresden, which could be built using a similar, unprecedented international fundraising campaign, spoke to the Parisians courage.
It wasn’t long before in many places, aid for reconstruction has been promised
One by one, some comforting news to be known: The day after the devastating fire walls and towers are still, some of the art treasures and the historical organ from the 1730s probably could be saved.
It is not yet clear whether the walls are still standing, are to be viable, or maybe first of all, also need to be ablated. But one thing is for sure: Even if the road is long and it could possibly take decades: Notre Dame will rise again!