Watching in horror on the news as the great 12th century Notre Dame Cathedral is engulfed in flames. Its practically gutted, parts of the stone walls and 2 towers still standing. This is such a tragic loss of history and Art to the world. 
Note Dame Cathedral fire!
Just saw that also here in the States. Irreplaceable loss of History. Apparently the fire suppression system was insufficient? Certainly terrible news.
Yes, heartbreaking images. Ironically It was undergoing conservation work and possibly something could have atrributed to the fire.
Just watching the scene live on the BBC. Praying for the safety of the visitors and fire crews. Heart breaking indeed. I visited Paris some years ago and stood in the front of the two towers .
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Iâve never seen it in the flesh Archie and never will now. I do hope they can restore it in some way.
Impressive building, I wanted to visit but the queues to enter were massive.
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I visited Paris before architecture school started in Vicenza Italy in Spring of 1995. We spent hours touring Notre Dame and seeing the history we studied for years prior. I am greatful for that opportunity all the more now. Nothing is guaranteed tomorrow.
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It is worth noting that my whole family (except my older brother) were in France when it happened, and I only heard about it the next day. Btw, we didnât start the fire 
He who smelt it, dealt it.
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Haha. 
actually, two or three separate people messaged my dad asking where all of us kids were when the fire started 
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[Clopin]
Morning in Paris, the city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
The fisherman fishes, the bakerman bakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
To the big bells as loud as the thunder
To the little bells soft as a psalm
And some say the soul of the cityâs
The toll of the bells
(Sung)
Dark was the night when our tale was begun
On the docks near Notre Dame
[Man #1, spoken]
Shut it up, will you!
[Man #2]
Weâll be spotted!
[Woman]
Hush, little one
[Clopin, sung]
Four frightened gypsies slid silently under
The docks near Notre Dame
[Man #3, spoken]
Four guilders for safe passage into Paris
[Clopin, sung]
But a trap had been laid for the gypsies
And they gazed up in fear and alarm
At a figure whose clutches
Were iron as much as the bells
[Man #1, spoken]
Judge Claude Frollo!
[Clopin, sung]
The bells of Notre Dame
[Chorus]
[Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
[Clopin]
Judge Claude Frollo longed
To purge the world
Of vice and sin
[Chorus]
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
[Clopin]
And he saw corruption
Evârywhere
Except within]
[Frollo, spoken]
Bring these gypsy vermin to the palace of justice
[Guard]
You there, what are you hiding?
[Frollo]
Stolen goods, no doubt. Take them from her
[Clopin]
She ran
[Chorus, sung]
[Dies irae, dies illa (Day of wrath, that day)
Solvet saeclum in favilla (Shall consume the world in ashes)
Teste David cum sibylla (As prophesied by David and the sibyl
Quantus tremor est futurus (What trembling is to be)
Quando Judex est venturus (When the Judge is come)
[Woman, spoken]
Sanctuary, please give us sanctuary!
[Frollo]
A baby? A monster!
[Archdeacon]
Stop!
[Clopin, sung]
Cried the Archdeacon
[Frollo, spoken]
This is an unholy demon
I am sending it back to Hell, where it belongs
[Archdeacon, sung]
See there the innocent blood you have spilt
On the steps of Notre Dame
[Frollo, spoken]
I am guiltless. She ran, I pursued
[Archdeacon, sung]
Now you would add this childâs blood to your guilt
On the steps of Notre Dame
[Frollo, spoken]
My conscience is clear!
[Archdeacon, sung]
You can lie to yourself and your minions
You can claim that you havenât a qualm
But you never can run from
Nor hide what youâve done from the eyes
The very eyes of Notre Dame
[Chorus]
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
[Clopin]
And for one time in his life
Of power and control
[Chorus]
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
[Clopin]
Frollo felt a twinge of fear
For his immortal soul
[Frollo, spoken]
What must I do?
[Archdeacon]
Care for the child, and raise it as your own
[Frollo]
What? Iâm to be saddled with this misshapenâŠ?
Very well. Let him live with you, in your church
[Archdeacon]
Live here? Where?
[Frollo]
Anywhere
(Sung)
Just so heâs kept locked away
Where no one else can see
(Spoken)
The bell tower, perhaps
And who knows, our Lord works in mysterious ways
(Sung)
Even this foul creature may
Yet prove one day to be
Of use to me
[Clopin, spoken]
And Frollo gave the child a cruel name
A name that means âhalf-formedâ:
Quasimodo
(Sung)
Now here is a riddle to guess if you can
Sing the bells of Notre Dame
Who is the monster and who is the man?
[Clopin and Chorus]
Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells of Notre Dame