A major fire has destroyed the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, toppling its spire and leaving the remaining structure of the building in a weakened state.
The deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire, said the cathedral had suffered "colossal damages", and the emergency services worked late into Monday night to salvage the art and other priceless pieces stored in the cathedral.
The wooden interior has been destroyed.
But which other features in the 850-year-old Gothic structure make it stand out in a city of iconic buildings?
Rose windowsImage copyright Getty Images
The cathedral has three rose windows dating back to the 13th Century, which are among its most famous features.
The first, and smallest, on the west facade, was finished in around 1225 and celebrated for the way the glass seemingly upheld the stonework around it.
The south rose has a diameter of nearly 13m (43ft) and is made up of 84 panels.
However, it no longer retains its original stained glass because it was damaged in previous fires.
André Finot, cathedral spokesman, told BFMTV that the rose windows appeared not to have been touched by the fire, although there were still fears for them because of the fragility of the building.
Two towersImage copyright AFP
Most visitors to Notre-Dame will spend some time standing before two Gothic towers which crown the western facade of the cathedral.
Work on the western facade began in 1200, but the first tower - the north one - was not completed until 40 years later.
Ten years after that, in 1250, the southern tower was completed.
Both towers are 68m high, and climbing the 387 steps gives panoramic views of Paris.
Officials said that both bell towers remain intact.
Gargoyles and grotesquesImage copyright Getty Images
Anyone feeling fit enough to climb the stairs and gain views across Paris has to pass another of the cathedral's best-known features - the gargoyles and grotesques.
These are two types of stone sculptures, often featuring mythical creatures. Unlike grotesques, gargoyles have water spouts to carry rainwater off the building, although several have already been replaced by PVC pipes because Notre-Dame's stonework has corroded.
The most famous sculpture - known as the Stryge - sits on top of the building, watching out over the city with its head in its hands.
Bells
Media captionWhy Notre-Dame is getting new bells
The cathedral has 10 bells - the largest, known as Emmanuel, weighs more than 23 tonnes and was installed in the south tower in 1685.
The cathedral celebrated its 850th anniversary in 2013 by recasting the smaller bells from the north tower.
Each was blessed with the name of a saint to replicate the original bells that were melted for cannon balls during the French Revolution.
Writer Victor Hugo used the cathedral as a setting for his 1831 work The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
His main character, Quasimodo, is feared by locals for the way he looks - but finds sanctuary in the cathedral and is employed as a bell-ringer.
Gothic spireImage copyright AFP Image caption An image of the steeple taken last year, contrasted with Monday's blaze
Notre-Dame's famous spire, which collapsed during Monday's fire, dates back to the 12th Century.
It underwent several changes in the building's history - including being dismantled during the French Revolution, and later rebuilt in the 1860s.
Reflecting on its collapse, the Royal Institute of British Architects said: "The loss of the roof and spire of Notre-Dame, and possibly the stone vault too, is an irreplaceable blow to the heritage of French Gothic architecture.
"Our heart goes out to the people of France, and to lovers of our shared cultural heritage wherever they are."
RelicsImage copyright AFP Image caption The Holy Crown of Thorns was said to have been rescued from the fire
Notre-Dame is home to relics from the Passion of Christ, described as a piece of the cross, a nail and the Holy Crown of Thorns, said to have been worn by Jesus before the crucifixion.
Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, tweeted that firefighters, police and others formed a human chain to rescue priceless artefacts, such as the crown and tunic said to have been worn by King Louis IX when he brought the crown of thorns to Paris.
Image copyright Anne Hidalgo Image caption Artwork and relics saved from Notre Dame were temporarily stored in City Hall
But BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said firefighters reported that some of the large paintings inside the cathedral were too heavy to take down from the walls and save.
Some of the art and artefacts were stored overnight in City Hall but they would be moved to the Louvre museum as soon as possible, said French culture minister Franck Riester.
Major paintings in the cathedral would be moved to the museum on Friday, after they had been protected, conserved and restored, he said. Mr Riester said they were mostly undamaged but may have suffered some effects from the smoke.
OrganImage copyright Getty Images
The cathedral has three organs, including the 8,000-pipe Great Organ, first constructed in 1401 and rebuilt in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Despite many restorations and additions over the years, it still contains some pipes first installed in the medieval era.
Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told French news channel BFMTV that the organ remained intact.
Organist Johann Vexo, who was playing a Mass when the fire alarm rang, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's the most famous instrument in the world. It was absolutely stunning, gorgeous - we don't have any words to describe it, it was a wonderful experience every time. It was such a privilege to work and to play in this wonderful place."
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