Notre Dame Cathedral burned on April 15, 2019, with flames erupting in the evening and burning for hours, destroying the roof and spire before firefighters saved the main structure and artworks. The fire, suspected to be accidental, caused extensive damage but led to a massive restoration effort that saw the cathedral reopen to the public in December 2024.
By September, the determination of the exact origin of the fire was expected to take a great deal more time and work. By 15 April 2020, investigators believed the fire "to have been started by either a cigarette or a short circuit in the electrical system".
Long Read'The story of Notre-Dame' (1/5). Partially destroyed by a fire on April 15, 2019, Emmanuel Macron promised the cathedral would be rebuilt within five years. Due to reopen on December 7, Le Monde looks back on the five years that made this challenge possible.
Following a 2019 fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, archaeological restoration work uncovered 100 unknown burials under the cathedral, including a mysterious lead coffin. French researchers believe they found the remains of famed French Renaissance poet Joachim du Bellay, who died in 1560.
Did the Crown of Thorns survive the Notre Dame fire?
(OSV News) – On Dec. 13, the Crown of Thorns was returned to Notre Dame, marking a deeply moving moment for Parisians and pilgrims alike. The relic, which survived the devastating 2019 fire, had been stored at the Louvre since the blaze.
Why the Notre Dame Cathedral burned so quickly, badly
Is Jesus's Crown of Thorns real?
At least half of them are fake relics on the basis of the studies carried out in Paris, where the true crown has been located for almost 800 years. The hoop of the crown, about 12 centimeters large, is made of Juncus balticus, a plant species typical of the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
Yes, visitors and those involved with the restoration of Notre Dame reported a lingering smell of smoke and carbon even after reopening, mixed with incense, as a powerful reminder of the 2019 fire, though extensive cleaning has brightened the interior and removed centuries of soot, changing the overall scent profile from just old stone to a blend of history, fire, and restoration.
During the tragic fire of 2019, the fate of the rose windows worried the entire world. Fortunately, they survived the flames, though the south rose window suffered slight structural damage. Their endurance over time and adversity reaffirms their status as invaluable treasures of world heritage.
Since 1905, Notre-Dame, like the other cathedrals in France, has been owned by the French government, with the exclusive rights of use granted to the French Roman Catholic Church. The French government is responsible for its maintenance.
Prior to the Seventh Crusade, Louis IX of France bought from Baldwin II of Constantinople what was venerated as Jesus' crown of thorns. It is kept in Paris to this day, in the Notre Dame Cathedral.
On December 8, 2024, he even declined an invitation from the Élysée Palace and the Diocese of Paris, who were hoping for his symbolic presence at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The reason? According to the Pope, the event was to showcase the cathedral itself, not his own presence.
In total, nearly $900 million was raised through donations from 340,000 donors in 150 countries. According to Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris, the remainder of the donated money will likely be used to "benefit the cathedral" in other ways. https://cnn.
The church famous for taking over 600 years to build is the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) in Germany, with construction starting in 1248 and finishing in 1880, spanning 632 years, making it a stunning Gothic masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has, literally, risen from the ashes and is again open to the public. If you're visiting Paris, carve out an hour or so to visit the recently reopened Notre-Dame de Paris and admire what surely must be the most incredible restoration job in modern history.
Liverpool's two cathedrals, though distinct in style and denomination, share a common thread of resilience, innovation, and community spirit. They are architectural masterpieces that tell the story of Liverpool's past, present, and future.
"Irish Catholic" describes a person of Irish descent who practices the Catholic faith, while "Catholic" refers to any member of the worldwide Catholic Church (usually the Roman Catholic Church), making Irish Catholic a specific ethno-religious identity within the broader faith. The key distinction isn't doctrinal; it's the blend of Irish heritage, culture, and history with Catholic belief, especially strong in the US, Canada, and Australia, differing from Catholics of Italian, Polish, or other backgrounds.
In addition to identifying the two sets of remains, researchers have found more than 1,000 fragments of the cathedral's rood screen, an architectural element that separated the choir from the nave.
The oldest surviving church building is generally considered the Dura-Europos church in Syria (mid-3rd century), while the Aqaba Church (Jordan) and Megiddo church (Israel) are oldest purpose-built ruins (3rd century); for still-functioning churches, the Church of St. Martin in Canterbury (Britain, 6th century) and Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenia, 4th century) are contenders, though Etchmiadzin's core is 5th century, making St. Martin's a strong claim for oldest continuously used parish church in the English-speaking world.
The Crypte archéologique de l'Ile de la Cité is located beneath Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The largest archaeological crypt in Europe, it offers a unique insight into the urban and architectural evolution of the Ile de la Cité.
Smoking and vaping are prohibited across all campus premises, including buildings, grounds, company-owned vehicles, parking garages at all locations, and other facility- owned, leased or sub-leased locations. This policy is in place to protect the health and well- being of our community, and to reduce the risk of fire.
Yes, you can just walk into Notre-Dame Cathedral, as entry is free and open to everyone, but expect long lines, especially during busy times, as it's very popular; reserving a free time slot online via the official website is highly recommended to skip the queue and ensure smoother access.
