After Notre Dame’s heartbreaking fire, hoping tourists will find solace in other magnifcent churches
The nave and choir of the Saint-Denis basilica. With its use of light, the church was the inspiration for Notre Dame. By Mary Winston Nicklin April 17 at 10:45 AM PARIS — Smoke billowed from the heart of Paris on Monday night, as the city’s firefighters sought to control the inferno that engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral. Time seemed to stop as we watched the flames topple the spire, ravage the roof and threaten the towers.
Still, there is nothing like Notre Dame. Bishop Maurice de Sully laid the cathedral’s first stone in 1163, and the colossal construction was not completed for nearly two centuries. Some 52 acres of trees were cut down in the 12th century to create the intricate timber charpente, or framing, often equated to a “forest” with each beam coming from a single tree.
The cost of Monday’s fire is inestimable. International fundraising campaigns were already launched by Tuesday morning. French billionaires Francois-Henri Pinault and Bernard Arnault pledged a combined 300 million euros, reminiscent of when American John D. Rockefeller donated funds to save the gothic cathedral in Reims, which had suffered fire and artillery damage during World War I.
On the right bank, the 16th-century Saint-Eustache church represents a melange of architectural styles and hosts wonderful concerts. High above the city, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a vision in white atop Montmartre. A relatively recent addition to the skyline , Sacré-Cœur offers sweeping views over the city.
“Suger was a genius, pioneering the first example of gothic architecture,” explained guide Charlotte Pecheux on my visit. “His idea? God is equivalent to light, so more light was needed to enter the building.” What had been a dark, Romanesque structure morphed into an architectural laboratory with cross vaults negating the need for wall supports. These were replaced by large, stained-glass windows, and colors danced on the walls.
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