SMART THINKING

Notre-Dame is a true French icon, and will be rebuilt after the devastating fire in April.

Notre-Dame is a true French icon, and will be rebuilt after the devastating fire in April.

As the world watched the spire at the top of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris collapse under the fiery blaze, people around the globe mourned the history lost. The Gothic building is the most visited monument in Paris, with over 13 million people going to see it each year – nearly double the number who head to the Eiffel Tower. The cathedral took 200 years to build, commencing in 1163, and it has been overhauled at various stages since. In fact, it was undergoing renovation at the time of the fire (as pictured) after decades of deterioration. The spire that collapsed wasn’t in fact an original component of the cathedral. It was added in the 19th century by the French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc – who was tasked with restoring the Cathedral after it was damaged during the French Revolution. The gargoyles – as featured in Victor Hugo’s classic novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame – were also added in the 19th century. Many historical events have taken place within the walls of the cathedral: it’s where Henry VI of England was made King of France in 1431 and also where Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Notre-Dame de Paris is our history, our literature, the life of our imagination, the place where we have lived our great moments … it’s the epicentre of our life.” While the blaze still raged, Macron declared the cathedral would be rebuilt – and the donations soon rolled in. Indeed, François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering – which owns high-end brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent – promised 100 million euros towards rebuilding Notre-Dame.