Menu Close

Articles on Notre Dame fire

Displaying all articles

On November 12, 2019, in Venise, the sea rose 1.87 metres above its normal level, flooding much of the city. Ihor Serdyukov/Shutterstock

Notre-Dame and Venice: why such a gap in generosity?

More than 1 billion euros were donated after Paris’ cathedral was grievously damaged by fire in April. By comparison, just a few million euros were given after catastrophic flooding in Cité des Doges.
US marines walk through the rebuilt palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, in the ancient town of Babylon, in April 2003. The ruins suffered serious damage when American troops set up a military base amid the ruins during the Iraq War. Reuters/Jerry Lampen

‘World Heritage’ site selection is Eurocentric – and that shapes which historic places get love and money

A scholar analyzed data about UNESCO World Heritage sites to explain why European cultural relics like Notre Dame are so beloved, while splendid monuments elsewhere remain relatively unknown.
Antoine Arnault (second from left), son of Bernard Arnault and member of the LVMH board of directors, visited the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral the day after the fire. Christophe Petit Tesson/AFP

The profane and the sacred: why luxury firms rushed to support Notre-Dame

The biggest names in France’s luxury industry have given millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame. Questioning why they would do so overlooks the deep historical and religious roots of the industry.
Professional mountain climbers installing synthetic, waterproof tarps over the gutted, exposed exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral. AP Photo/Thibault Camus

Notre Dame has shaped the intellectual life of Paris for eight centuries

The influence of Notre Dame Cathedral extended into every part of the life of Paris. The cathedral school was the training ground for medieval thinkers and the place of birth of the first university.
The grief expressed at the Notre Dame fire is not just because it is a beautiful building – some places become more important to us because of history, culture and our own memories of them. Julien De Rosa/EPA/AAP

Why are we so moved by the plight of the Notre Dame?

Images of Notre Dame on fire have elicited an outpouring of grief around the world and online. This response raises the question of why we feel more connected to some heritage places than others.
The spire collapses while flames are burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Ian Langsdon/EPA

Notre Dame: how a rebuilt cathedral could be just as wonderful

With modern technology, it is entirely possible for the cathedral to be recreated with near-accuracy to the original. We can do this and keep the original building’s spirit and feeling.

Top contributors

More