On April 15, 2019, the world watched with despair as a fire ripped through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The flames began just before 7 p.m. local time and spread rapidly throughout one of Europe’s most well-known structures.

By 7:40 p.m., the fire had spread to the spire, which collapsed just before 8 p.m.

Firefighters worked diligently to save the towers and to keep a bell from collapsing, but their efforts could not save a roof structure that dated to the year 1220.

On this episode of Global News What happened to…? Erica Vella looks back on the history of the gothic cathedral and finds out how the fire nearly threatened its future. She also discovers how much work is underway to repair and restore the building.

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