Fire: Cathedral of Saint-Donatien, Nantes

[DaveHarries]

Hi all,

 

BBC has been reporting all day that a fire broke out in the roof of the basilica of St. Donatien, Nantes at just after 08:30 BST (10:30 French time) during a morning mass. Fortunately it seems that the city's fire brigade arrived pronto and managed to confine the fire to the roof although I am guessing, in view of the lack of tiles on the roof now, that some of the roof may have fallen in. Reports say that "the roof and the back part of the basilica - where some wooden beams have given way - have been severely damaged and efforts are now under way to save several previous objects inside the basilica, most notably its organ".

 

Full picture (from the website of "The Independant"): http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fire-engulfs-basilique-saint-donatien-in-nantes-10320298.html

BBC News report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33134463

 

I guess the organ may - at least in part - be dismantled for a while to allow for repairs to take place. Pity the fire had to happen but it seems, fortunately, that the blaze was not as serious as it might otherwise have been.

 

Dave

 

EDIT: Thanks to AJJ I understand that this is a basilica, not the cathedral: I had presumed that the basilica and the cathedral were the same building. I cannot edit the subject heading though. Thanks, AJ.

[AJJ]

Not Nantes Cathedral but another church in the city. The Cathedral (Ss. Peter & Paul) is medieval whereas this basilica is 19th Century.

 

Here is the Cathedral organ:

 

http://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/france/nantescsp.html

 

'Not sure what is in the place with the fire.

 

A

[tiratutti]

Not Nantes Cathedral but another church in the city. The Cathedral (Ss. Peter & Paul) is medieval whereas this basilica is 19th Century.

[...]

'Not sure what is in the place with the fire.

 

Organ of the basilica St. Donatien and St. Rogatien.

 

Cheers

tiratutti

[DaveHarries]

Merci, tiratutti

 

David