TOP 10 BUILDINGS THAT ROSE FROM THE ASHES

1 NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL

Paris, France

“The Hunchback of Notre-Dame sparked a resurgence in appreciation for the cathedral”

One of the most iconic sites in the French capital, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris has dominated the city’s skyline for centuries, with the first stone laid in 1163. A devastating fire in 2019 caused severe damage – destroying the roof and spire – and work is ongoing to determine how it will be reconstructed.

This is not the first time, however, that the cathedral has faced adversity. During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame was seen as a symbol of the monarchy; it was ransacked, with many of its windows smashed and treasures stolen, and later reduced to a warehouse. French novelist Victor Hugo sparked a resurgence in appreciation for the cathedral with his 1831 novel (republished in English two years later with a more familiar title: ) and renovations were undertaken