- A catastrophic fire had engulfed the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The cathedral, whose name means Our Lady, is the seat of the archbishop of Paris.
- The foundation stone of the Notre-Dame was laid in 1163 by Pope Alexander III during the reign of King Louis VII. The construction of the cathedral was completed in the 13th century. It lies at the eastern end of the Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the river Seine River, Paris.
- It was damaged and neglected in the 1790s, during the French Revolution. The Notre Dame Cathedral was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as emperor in 1804.
- It is also the setting of Victor Hugo’s famous novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The book informed readers about the building’s dilapidating condition and help spur support for major restorations.
- Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic cathedral architecture, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991.
- People across the globe have lamented the destruction of Notre Dame Cathedral due to the fire. French President has pledged to rebuild the Notre Dame and has promised that an immediate fundraising campaign would be launched.
