Man questioned in arson probe into French cathedral fire

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, March 19, 2024


Man questioned in arson probe into French cathedral fire
Firefighters wearing protective gear pick up pieces of stained glass in front of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral in Nantes, western France, on July 19, 2020. French investigators were on SJuly 19 questioning a man who worked at the cathedral in the city of Nantes which was badly damaged by fire a day earlier, a prosecutor said. The man "was responsible for locking up the cathedral on Friday evening and investigators wanted to clarify elements of the schedule of this person", prosecutor Pierre Sennes told AFP. Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS / AFP.

by Benjamin Massot



NANTES (AFP).- French investigators questioned a man Sunday who worked as a volunteer at the gothic cathedral of Nantes which was badly damaged by fire hours after he locked it up for the night.

Prosecutors launched an arson investigation after the Saturday morning blaze which they said appeared to have broken out in three different parts of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes, western France.

Sunday's questioning sought to "clarify elements of the schedule" of the man on Friday evening, Nantes prosecutor Pierre Sennes told AFP.

He was being held as part of "normal procedure" and it would be "premature" to suggest the man was a suspect in the case, he added.

The blaze, which came just 15 months after a devastating fire tore through the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, destroyed the Nantes congregation's famed organ, which dated from 1621 and had survived the French revolution and World War II bombardment.

Also lost were priceless artefacts and paintings, including a work by 19th century artist Hippolyte Flandrin and stained glass windows which contained remnants of 16th century glass.

About 100 firefighters managed to save the main structure of the cathedral, which was constructed over more than 450 years starting in 1434.

Sennes said experts from a police unit specialised in fire investigations were at the scene Sunday, awaiting authorisation from firefighters to examine the platform on which the grand organ had stood.

'Unimaginable loss'
On Saturday, Sennes said a preliminary examination had found no signs of forced entry at the cathedral.

Investigators did find three separate fire outbreaks, at "a substantial distance" from one another and at opposite ends of the church, he said, which led to the opening of an arson probe.




One of the fires started near the organ which was on the first level of the cathedral and accessible by 66 steps.

Catholic official Father Francois Renaud, who oversees the cathedral, said the organ console had "completely disappeared", and described it as "an unimaginable loss".

"The console of the choir organ has gone up in smoke along with the adjoining wooden choir stalls. Original stained glass windows behind the great organ have all shattered," he said.

The cathedral's rector, Hubert Champenois, told AFP on Saturday that "everything was in order last night," and "a very close inspection was made before it closed, like every other evening."

The volunteer was being questioned about "the conditions of the closing of the cathedral" on Friday evening, Sennes said Sunday.

Lay volunteers
The cathedral website states that lay people, all volunteers, help with administrative tasks such as account-keeping, cleaning, security, and opening and closing the cathedral on a daily basis.

The building was last hit by fire in 1972, requiring 13 years of large-scale reconstruction.

Regional fire chief Laurent Ferlay said the latest damage was not comparable to the 1972 blaze, nor to last year's blaze at the Notre-Dame.

Much of the Paris cathedral's roof and wooden structure was destroyed, its steeple collapsed and fumes containing toxic molten lead billowed into the air.

Prime Minister Jean Castex, visiting the Nantes cathedral on Saturday, promised the state would "play a major role" in its reconstruction which "I want to happen as quickly as possible."

© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

July 20, 2020

Kunstmuseum Basel opens its first exhibition dedicated to the history of photography

McNay Art Museum acquires three new outdoor sculptures for permanent collection

To buy this Basquiat, swipe right

57 works by Edward Hopper on display all summer at Indianapolis Museum of Art

Exceptional collection of Post-Impressionist art on view in Canada for the first time

Ancient mosaic from Roman Dorset at risk of export

Luther Price, experimental artist and filmmaker, dies at 58

Aperture announces a time-limited sale of three collectible prints by Joel Meyerowitz

2001: A Space Odyssey suit and Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 control stick each sold for $370,000

Gerald Peters Gallery opens an exhibition of paintings by Michael Cassidy

H&H Classics to offer wonderful barn-find discovery

The Met Opera tests pay-per-view model

Thai metal workshop dazzles tourists with movie-inspired creations

Man questioned in arson probe into French cathedral fire

Korat will host the next Thailand Biennale 2021

Turkey's Erdogan visits Hagia Sofia after reconversion to mosque

Heritage Auctions promotes Leon Benrimon to Vice President of Modern & Contemporary Art

Exhibition celebrates a reunion of work by the artists Art Below has presented throughout its 15-year history

Kohn Gallery opens a solo exhibition of paintings and sculpture by artist Nir Hod

Thierry Goldberg opens summer group show

Museum of Graffiti opens "The Fabric of America: Artists in Protest"

Southern Europe opens its doors to tourists. Not many are coming.

Designers rally to support the East Hampton Historical Society Online Auction

Soho House announces the inaugural Soho House Art Prize with Bombay Sapphire

"Finite Rants" presents a visual essay by Bertrand Bonello




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

sa gaming free credit
Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful