On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire broke out at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, destroying the roof, the spire, and causing significant damage to the interior. The fire occurred during a renovation project and sparked an international outpouring of grief and offers to rebuild. The French government pledged to restore the cathedral, and a major reconstruction effort began immediately, with the cathedral reopening in 2024.

The Notre-Dame fire inspired an immediate wave of poetry in French and other languages, as poets around the world wrote elegies and meditations on the loss and the hope for reconstruction. The fire also prompted reflections on the vulnerability of cultural heritage and the enduring significance of this medieval cathedral, which has been a symbol of French culture and the faith of generations of poets and pilgrims.