A disastrous fire surrounded Notre Dame(巴黎圣母院)destroyed large parts of the Gothic architecture on Monday.
"Notre Dame is our history, our literature, part of our spirit, the place of all our great events, our wars, our liberations, the center of our lives" French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in front of the still burning Paris landmark and promised to rebuild Notre Dame.
"Notre Dame is burning, and I know the sadness felt by so many fellow French people. But tonight, I'd like to speak of hope too, "he said, announcing the launch of a fundraising campaign.
"Let's be proud, because we built this cathedral(大教堂)more than 800 years ago, we've built it and, throughout the centuries, let it grow and improve it. So I gravely(严肃地)say tonight: we will rebuild it together." he added.
The disastrous fire engulfed(吞没)the upper reaches of Paris'towering Notre Dame Cathedral as it was undergoing renovations(翻新).
Tourists and Parisians looked on horrified from the streets below. France's Interior Ministry said firefighters might not be able to save the structure.
The fire collapsed the cathedrals' spire(尖顶)and spread to one of its landmark towers "Everything is burning; nothing will remain from the frame," Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media. The 12th-century cathedral is home to incalculable(不可计算的)works of art and is one of the world's most famous tourist attractions,due to Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The cause of the fire was not known, but French media quoted the Paris fire brigade(消防队)as saying the fire is "potentially linked" to a 6 million- euro($6.88 million)renovation project on the church's spire and its 250 tons of lead. Officials opened an investigation as Paris police said there were no reported deaths. Some 400 firefighters were battling the fire well into the night.
