The world has been rocked by the fire that consumed one of the most recognisable and historically important buildings in France.

The 850-year-old Gothic building’s famous spire and roof have collapsed but the main structure, including the two bell towers, have thankfully been saved.

The fire is presumed to be connected to the renovation work that was underway to repair cracks in the stone, reports BBC.

Notre-Dame before the fire:

No other site represents France quite like Notre-Dame. Its main rival as a national symbol, the Eiffel Tower, is little more than a century old. Notre-Dame has stood tall above Paris since the 1200s.

You can see early images of the blaze below:

Historian Camille Pascal told French broadcaster BFMTV that “invaluable heritage” had been destroyed, adding: “Happy and unfortunate events for centuries have been marked by the bells of Notre-Dame. We can be only horrified by what we see”.

The last time the cathedral suffered major damage was during the French Revolution. It survived two world wars largely unscathed.

Watching such an embodiment of the permanence of a nation burn and its spire collapse is profoundly shocking to any French person.

Firefighters worked to keep the fire under control:

Paris fire brigade footage shows the extent of the blaze:

The moment that the famous spire collapses despite efforts from the rescue team:

The inside of the cathedral before the fire:

The aftermath of the blaze:

Many of the priceless relics in the building have been saved, including the crown of thorns believed to have been worn by Christ.

A sad day for France and anyone who appreciated world and architectural history.

[sources:bbc&cnn&sky]