Blaze Strikes Historic Rouen Cathedral Spire During Restoration

A fire broke out in the spire of Rouen's Gothic cathedral during restoration work, evoking memories of the 2019 Notre-Dame de Paris blaze. Rouen's cathedral is renowned for its association with Claude Monet paintings and its architectural diversity, spanning over 800 years. Key features include three distinct towers and a historic bell tower.

A fire erupted in the spire of the iconic Notre-Dame de Rouen cathedral on Thursday amid ongoing restoration efforts. The incident is reminiscent of the 2019 blaze that devastated the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, causing its spire to collapse.

The Notre-Dame de Rouen cathedral is celebrated as one of France's premier Gothic structures, notably immortalized by impressionist artist Claude Monet. Monet's series of paintings captured the cathedral from various perspectives and at different times of the day.

Constructed and reconstructed over more than eight centuries, the cathedral embodies architectural styles from early Gothic to late Flamboyant and Renaissance. It is distinguished by its three towers, each representing a different architectural style. Highlights include the St. Roman tower, which houses the 'Joan of Arc' bell and a 64-bell carillon, audible from up to five kilometers away.