A fire ripped through the main building of the Mont‑Dieu Carthusian monastery on Sunday, leaving only most of its outer walls intact. Mayor Anne Fraipont called the loss the "Notre‑Dame of the Ardennes"; the site has been a protected historic monument since 1946. Firefighters arrived around 10:00 am (0900 GMT) and had the blaze under control before 4:00 pm; crews remained to douse hotspots. There were no artworks inside, the cause is under investigation, and the damaged structure now risks collapse.
Fire Devastates 12th‑Century Mont‑Dieu Monastery — the 'Notre‑Dame of the Ardennes' Suffers Major Loss
A fire ripped through the main building of the Mont‑Dieu Carthusian monastery on Sunday, leaving only most of its outer walls intact. Mayor Anne Fraipont called the loss the "Notre‑Dame of the Ardennes"; the site has been a protected historic monument since 1946. Firefighters arrived around 10:00 am (0900 GMT) and had the blaze under control before 4:00 pm; crews remained to douse hotspots. There were no artworks inside, the cause is under investigation, and the damaged structure now risks collapse.
14:55, 03.11.2025Culture
Fire Devastates Mont-Dieu Monastery, the 'Notre‑Dame of the Ardennes'
A large fire tore through the main building of the Mont‑Dieu Carthusian monastery on Sunday, severely damaging the centuries‑old complex, local officials and firefighters told AFP. The site — protected as a historic monument since 1946 — lost its roof and floors; only the outer walls now largely remain.
"There was a lot of wood in this building. There is no longer a roof, no longer a floor, only the walls remain," said Mayor Anne Fraipont, who described the monastery as the "Notre‑Dame of the Ardennes."
Walkers spotted smoke on Sunday morning and raised the alarm. Fire crews arrived at about 10:00 am (0900 GMT) and had the blaze under control before 4:00 pm, the Ardennes fire and rescue service said. Teams remained on site to extinguish hotspots while the brigade warned that damage to the structure was so extensive it "risked collapsing."
The fire brigade confirmed there were no works of art inside the monastery at the time. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.
Located in the dense forests of France's northeastern Ardennes, the Mont‑Dieu complex dates back to around 1130. It was rebuilt in the 17th century and its monks were dispersed during the French Revolution; the site has long been valued for its historical and architectural significance.
Local authorities and heritage experts are expected to assess structural stability and plan emergency conservation measures. Further updates will follow as investigators complete their inquiry and as preservation teams evaluate whether portions of the monument can be rescued or stabilised.