Through the years, Barons experience Notre Dame through French exchange program

French teacher Marina Dillingham has been taking students abroad for the French exchange program since 2004. Over the years, Barons have gotten to experience firsthand numerous cultural landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Yesterday, Notre Dame was devastated by a fire that caused significant damage to its structure and caused its iconic spiral to fall. According to the New York Times, the 850-year-old medieval-gothic building has housed several major moments in history, including Henry VI’s crowning as king of France in 1431 and Joan of Arc’s beatification by Pope Pius in 1909.

“Notre Dame has unparalleled beauty and cultural value,” Dillingham said in an email to the Crusader. “This is a terrible loss we’ve all just suffered.”

 

2005

2010

 

2012

 

2016

Photos provided by Marina Dillingham