Notre-Dame cathedral: What treasures were saved

Paris: Notre-Dame's treasures and their fate:

The crown of thorns which was believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ and which was bought by King Louis IX in 1239 is presented at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.Credit:AP

Crown of thorns

The cathedral's most sacred relic, the Crown of Thorns was saved. It is purported to be a relic of the crown placed on the head of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion, brought to Paris by King Louis IX in the 13th century. It is made of rushes wrapped into a wreath and tied with gold filament. Since 1896 it has been kept under glass and only occasionally displayed. Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said it was among pieces quickly transported to a "secret location" by officials after the fire. Mayor Anne Hidalgo also said the tunic of St Louis, a long shirt-like garment from the 13th century and believed to have belonged to King Louis IX, was also rescued.

Fragment of the Holy Cross and Nail

The 24-centimetre piece of wood and 9-centimetre-long nail are purported to be from the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The wood fragment is kept in a glass case. The fate of the two relics is not known.

The organ at Notre Dame survived, although it’s not clear if the pipes suffered smoke damage.Credit:AP

The organ

The impressive organ dating to the 1730s and boasting an estimated 8000 pipes did not burn and is intact but nobody knows yet whether it was damaged by the heat or water. "The organ is a very fragile instrument," Bertrand de Feydeau, vice-president of the Fondation du Patrimoine which protects France's cultural heritage, tells The Associated Press. He says the organ has "incredible" sound, with "very rich colours," and there is a waiting list of more than two years of organists wanting to play it. Each pipe was individually cleaned during a 2013 refurbishment.

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