Historic French basilica partially destroyed by fire

Saint-Donatien

The Saint-Donatien, a 19th century French basilica in Nantes, was partly destroyed after morning mass on Monday when a fire broke out on the roof. Over 40 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames:

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An "extremely important symbol" to the region’s Catholic community, the Bishop of Nantes originally built the Saint-Donatien in 490, in honor of two martyred brothers, Donatien and Rogatien, whose bodies are buried in the basilica's crypt. The Saint-Donatien was later ruined by Norman invaders and rebuilt in 980; the current structure is from an 1804 rebuilding that followed the partial destruction of its predecessor during the French Revolution.

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Monday's fire is believed to have started during "waterproofing work," which involved welding on the basilica's roof; more than three-quarters of the roof was destroyed by the blaze.

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