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Notre Dame: What has been lost and what survived the devastating cathedral fire?

70 per cent of of artworks believed to be lost forever, French Interior Ministry says

Chiara Giordano

Wednesday 17 April 2019 06:21 EDT

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

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1/13Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

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Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Rose windows

Among the most famous architectural features of the Gothic masterpiece, the stained glass rose windows are treasured artworks. The three rose windows, which date back to the 13th century, adorn the north, south and west facades. There were hopes the windows had escaped being destroyed by the fire after firefighters stopped its spread. Photos the following morning suggested the circular window of the nave had remained intact.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Destroyed: Irreplaceable wooden roof

Crowds of tourists and Parisians watched in horror as the spire and roof of Notre Dame cathedral came crashing down to the ground.

EPA

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Descent from the Cross

The cross and statue on Notre Dame's high altar - sculpted by Nicolas Coustou in 1723 - were believed to have survived in tact despite being surrounded by smoke and debris.

Reuters

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Great Organ

With nearly 8,000 pipes, some dating back to the 1700s, Notre Dame's master organ is one of the largest in the world. The monumental instrument, the largest in France, was fully restored in 2013 with each pipe cleaned. Paris' deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, said the instrument remained intact following the fire.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Bells

Housed in the two western towers, Notre Dame's bells have rung out at key moments in France's history. Emmanuel, the largest bell, was lifted into the south tower in 1685 and weighs over 23 tonnes. The fire was prevented from spreading to the bell towers.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Crown of Thorns

Believed to be a relic of the wreath of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion, the object was stored in the cathedral's treasury. French King Louis IX brought the relic, which is contained in an elaborate gold case, to Paris in 1238. The Crown of Thorns was saved and has been taken into safekeeping.

AP

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Tunic of Saint Louis

The tunic allegedly worn by Saint Louis IX as he brought the Crown of Thorns to Paris was kept inside the cathedral. It has been saved.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Statues on the roof

The week before the fire, religious statues set atop the cathedral were removed for the first time in over 100 years as part of the restoration project. A 100-metre-high crane lowered the copper statues representing the 12 apostles and four evangelists onto a lorry.

AFP

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Destroyed: Spire

Crowds of tourists and Parisians watched in horror as the spire and roof of Notre Dame cathedral came crashing down to the ground.

EPA/I

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Unknown: Choir screen

It is not known what happened to the detailed choir screen at Notre Dame cathedral.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Some of the artworks from Notre-Dame sheltered as the fire devastated the cathedral

AFP/Getty

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Several of the most sacred artefacts and objects housed at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris have been saved following a devastating fire – but the fates of others are still unclear.

The 850-year-old Gothic cathedral was home to dozens of objects of cultural and historical significance, including the Holy Crown of Thorns believed to have been worn by Jesus at his crucifixion and the tunic of Saint Louis.

There were also numerous sculptures, statues and paintings inside the cathedral depicting Biblical saints and scenes when the fire broke out.

While firefighters managed to save the most precious item, the crown of thorns, it is not known whether others may have perished or been damaged in the blaze.

The French Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that “the walls have been preserved and at least 30 per cent of the artworks have been saved”, but the entire wooden structure, the spire and nearly 70 per cent of the artworks have gone forever.

A “human chain” was formed in a desperate bid to rescue as many items as possible after a fire broke out at the national monument at about 7pm on Monday.

Crowds of tourists watched on in horror as the blaze tore through the wooden roof of the landmark and the spire came crashing down to the ground.

More than 400 firefighters fought for 12 hours to bring the blaze under control as smoke billowed out into the night sky.

The fire claimed the roof and spire, but its twin bell towers were still visibly intact on Tuesday morning.

(Statista)

French president Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild the world-famous building, and within hours the rival billionaire owners of France’s two biggest luxury fashion empires pledged €300m between them.

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The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, however it is being treated as an accident and Paris public prosecutor said on Tuesday that there were no obvious signs of arson.

Click through our gallery to find out what has happened to the historic objects housed in Notre Dame cathedral before the fire.

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