Hyderabad: A devastating fire engulfed the cathedral of Notre Dame, the 850-year-old landmark in Paris on Monday evening. The blaze was brought under control by over 400 firefighters on Tuesday.
The fire caused the collapse of the UNESCO World Heritage site's spectacular Gothic spire and the destruction of its roof structure, which dated back to the 13th century.
Here are few things to know about the cathedral.
Notre Dame cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. The counstruction work began in 1160 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and it was largely complete by 1260.
The Notre Dame suffered desecration during the French Revolution.
It was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as Emperor in 1804.
The central spire was built in the 19th century.
The Cathedral houses the grand organ. which is one of the world's most famous musical instruments.
The cathedral has the Crown of Thorns, a relic of the passion of Christ. It has also three rose windows built in 13th century. It has 2 towers reaching a height of 68 meters.
Notre Dame has 10 bells of which Emmanuel is the largest. Emmanuel weighs over 23 tonnes.
French literary giant Victor Hugo's famous novel Hunchback of Notre -Dame was based on this cathedral. Notre Dame became much popular after the publication of Hugo's novel.
The cathedral of Notre Dame gets Unesco World Heritage site status in 1991 and witnesses footprints of over 13 million visitors each year.
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