[custom_adv] Notre Dame cathedral will be rebuilt - "it is our destiny" - following today's devastating inferno, says French President Emmanuel Macron. [custom_adv] The famous Paris cathedral in Paris has been virtually destroyed in a massive blaze - its roof and spire have collapsed and firefighters have been struggling to contain the inferno. [custom_adv] Although much of the 850-year-old cathedral has been gutted, Paris' fire chief says the main structure has been saved, with the flames stopped from spreading to the northern belfry."Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame," Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot said. [custom_adv] The 12th-century cathedral is home to incalculable works of art and is one of the world's most famous tourist attractions. [custom_adv] The world-famous cathedral, which was built in 1160, was engulfed in flames after the fire broke out about 4.50am on Tuesday. [custom_adv] Major parts of the 850-year-old cathedral have been destroyed in the catastrophic fire. Its spire collapsed shortly before 6am and the blaze had spread to one of the two rectangular bell towers about 7am. [custom_adv] "This fire is nowhere under control - it's getting worse before our eyes," said CNN correspondent Melissa Bell. "This is so much history going up in flames. [custom_adv] "The fire that tore through the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris on Monday, collapsing its central spire and caving in much of its roof, generated an outpouring of grief in France and around the world as a symbol of the country’s culture and history burned. [custom_adv] President Emmanuel Macron of France canceled a major speech on the Yellow Vests protests that have roiled the country, saying on Twitter, “like all of our fellow citizens, I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn.” [custom_adv] Thousands of French citizens lined the banks of the Seine, many in tears or unable to speak, watching the flames gut the cathedral, which survived two world wars unscathed, as tens of thousands more watched on live video streams on social media or television news. [custom_adv] Sylvie Lacour, who lived near the cathedral for eight years, watched it burn on television. [custom_adv] “The heart of Paris and my country is being gutted by the flames. I am devastated.” Beyond being one of her favorite spots in Paris, the iconic symbol of the city held a special place in her heart, she said.