A mystery fire broke out in at Rouen Cathedral in northern France today as visitors were told to evacuate the ancient place of worship.
Thick black smoke was filmed pouring out of its main spire in the late morning, in an area where renovation work was taking place.
‘Fire engines are at the scene, and the cathedral has been evacuated,’ said an emergency services spokesman.
The city’s mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, took to X to say: ‘A fire has started on the spire of Rouen Cathedral. Origin unknown at this stage. All public resources are mobilised.’
The 1,000-year-old cathedral was a favourite of renowned Impressionist Claude Monet, who painted it several times in the 19th century.
It was in the middle of a seven-year restoration project that began in 2017, according to France’s ministry of culture.
The blaze in northern France follows the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris being destroyed by a devastating fire in April 2019.