The house of worship, with roots dating back to the 12th century, is considered one of the world's greatest examples of French Gothic architecture.
— Hubert Hitier / AFP - Getty Images
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The sight stopped pedestrians in their tracks along the Seine River.
— Thomas Samson / AFP - Getty Images
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The peak of the 12th century cathedral was undergoing a renovation project.
French media quoted the Paris fire brigade saying the fire is "potentially linked" to the renovation work.
— Francois Guillot / AFP - Getty Images
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Firefighters work at the burning cathedral.
— Benoit Moser / Paris Fire Brigade via AP
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The cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world's most famous tourist attractions.
— Nicolas Liponne / Zuma Press
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The steeple starts to topple as the cathedral is engulfed in flames.
— Geoffrey Van Der Hasselt / AFP - Getty Images
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The steeple collapses.
— Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP - Getty Images
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Smoke billows from the cathedral.
— Charles Platiau / Reuters
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A woman watches the flames engulf the roof of the cathedral.
— Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP - Getty Images
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The fire at the cathedral is seen from the Montparnasse Tower.
— Philippe Lopez / AFP - Getty Images
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Parisians watch the fire from a bridge.
— Thomas Samson / AFP - Getty Images
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Located on the Ile de la Cite in the center of Paris, the Gothic cathedral is among the most famous from the Middle Ages and was built on the ruins of two earlier churches.
— Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP - Getty Images
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A man watches the cathedral burn.
— Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP - Getty Images
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Firefighters douse the flames at the cathedral.
— Charles Platiau / Reuters
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Parisians pray as the cathedral burns.
— Christophe Ena / AP
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Four hundred firefighters were on the scene.
— Philippe Wojazer / Reuters
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Smoke inside Notre Dame Cathedral
— Philippe Wojazer / Pool via AP
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An interior view of the cathedral shows a gaping hole in the roof after the collapse of the spire.
— Philippe Wojazer / AFP - Getty Images
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Parisians take in the devastated cathedral the day after the fire.
— Bertrand Guay / AFP - Getty Images
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Firefighters work at the cathedral on April 16.
— Benoit Tessier / Reuters
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Fallen debris sits near the altar.
— Christophe Morin / Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Sunlight streams through the roof of the cathedral.