On April 15, Parisians watched as flames engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral, first built in 1163. Photo courtesy of Vox
Last Monday, April 15, the world watched helplessly as Notre-Dame, Paris’s beloved 800-year-old Gothic cathedral, burned. The devastating fire, which firefighters fought for twelve hours, resulted in the loss of the church’s 300-foot spire, portions of its medieval roof, and a countless number of its relics. The church’s stone exterior was also damaged. The destruction, of course, means so much more to Paris and its residents than merely a burned building.
Notre-Dame is nicknamed the “Heart of Paris” because of its central location, but to Parisians, it holds an even greater significance. It’s not just a church; it’s a symbol of national strength that has withstood the test of time. In fact, the whole city of Paris grew from the Île de la Cité, the island on which Notre-Dame sits. From its perch on the River Seine, the cathedral watches over Paris, and citizens have come to accept its iconic twin bell towers as symbols of protection. Quite literally, all roads lead to Notre-Dame, as it is Paris’s kilomètre zéro — every other location in the city is measured by its distance from the center of the cathedral. For Parisians, the loss is unimaginable. Many watched in tears, pressed against the police line, as flames engulfed the heart of their beautiful home.
France must put their contemporary clashing politics on pause for a moment to deal with an issue of French history and identity that transcends parties and factions. Calling off campaigning, as many of France’s major parties have already done, is a commendable first step. However, measures like this, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s mourning speeches, are not enough.
The French deserve an action plan, one that Macron will follow through with, to rebuild Notre-Dame. The efforts may take decades longer than Macron’s current strategy that puts the renovation time at just five years. The rebuilding process will almost certainly require billions of euros and won’t be simple, considering the meticulous detail of the Gothic structure.
It’s difficult to tell what will come of this tragedy. Nothing is certain from here: as of now, there are no fingers to point, nobody to angrily blame for the loss of history. But this does not mark the end of Notre-Dame’s history. Notre-Dame is France — its history, its strength, its future. France will come together and rebuild — it must. The “Heart of Paris” may be broken, but it hasn’t stopped beating.
